The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-02
NEW CUP DEFENDER
BEATEN BY THE OLD.
Constitution Had to Take Second
Place in a Test Race at
Newport.
DELAYED By AN ACCIDENT.
Yacht Lost Some Time Through a
Mishap to Its Jib Sail
and Could Not
Recover.
DELAYED BY AN ACCIDENT.


was defeated by the Columbia to-day by
real race in which the new Herreshoff yacht
has participated. Although the contest from
start to finish was close and at times eX-
citing. in the opinion Of n majority of
yachtsmen in Newport tonight. the Consti-
tuition lost through misfortune. However,
the result of to-day's contest is far from
conclusive, and there is still much to be de-
cided.
A mfshap to the new boat came about an
hour after the start. While the boats were
on the second long tack to windward, the
clew Of the jib of the new boat was carried
away, and for some ten minutes she was
without the use Of that sail.
This accident set the Constitution back
practically mile, but, in spite of it. she
was able to get within two minutes Of the
Columbia at the turn, and cut this lead
down more than half on the run nome
Some of this gain, however, was undoubt-
eddy due to the fact that she came up in
the better wind. The Columbia did not es-
cape without accident, too. for Immediately
after crossing the finish line, in gybing over
the big mainsau. her main boom buckled
and she had to be towed to the city. 1t
will be necessary to sling a new spar be-
fore the Columbia can race again. but 1t is
expected it will be in place for a race
First of a Series.
The event of the day was the first OF a
series OF special races arranged by the New
York Yacht Club for the purpose of bringing
the two yachts together. The course was
cleared for the racers. when the time APP
preached for the firing Of the signal gun.
Just when it was wanted. Fifteen miles
dead to windward and back again was the
course signaled by the flags hoisted on the
Columbia of at n:io:s4. we'll TO windward
and three seconds in advance. The Consu-
tuition, with a rare burst of speed. came on
With rush and ran through the
ton than was expected of her.
Hunting for Wind.
This did not last long, however. Both
yachts. with big club topsails set and small
jib topsails hunting for whatever wind there
might be. were making the best OF the
breeze. The Constitution footed faster than
the Columbia. But. while the new boat was
going along swift as to the wind she had
not the grip on the water that the other
craft had. Along on the starboard tack the
two yachts sailed. both Jogging at an eight
as well as her rival by at least three de-
grees When the time came for the Constt-
tuition to tack It was mooted question
whether she could or not cross the SCUM
however, there was too large gap to lee-
ward to allow Of this. But just at the
moment when the Constitution's helm was
and both went over on the port tack for a
few minutes.
Accident to Constitution.
Suddenly the huff Of the Constitutions big
jib began to shake. The pennant. or the
sheet itself. had evidently carried away.
Down came the lib halyards by the run,
while dozen men climbed out on the bow
spirit to gather in the slack at the foot of
the sail SO as to smother the flowing duck.
For over ten minutes the Constitution, on
that close-hauled stretch, was without the
benefit Of her lib. Columbia all that time
When the sail was in place again the Con-
stitution rapidly forged ahead, making up
much of her leeway It was. however, too
big q gap to fill. The outward mark was
now in sight, and Columbia got hold Of its
true bearings and made a judicious hitch
to starboard. The Consultation a few sec
onds later also tackled. but what she did
was q stretch too far.
The Time.
The time at the outer mark was:
Columbia, 1:l:55.
Constitution, 1:o6:55.
Thus on the beat to w1ndward the CO.
lumbia defeated her opponent only two
minutes In setting spinnakers the CO.
lumbia was a trife smarter than the Con-
stttution.
In the run before the wind the Constitu-
ton gained. With sheets eased off she is
faster than the Columbia. The time at the
finish was:
Columbia, 2:32:3s.
Constitution. 2:3s:29.
Thus, over the course Of fifteen miles to
windWard and back, the elapsed time of
Columbia was 2:52:0i while that of the
Constitution was 2:52:52.