Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-31


 Was Covered She Was Leading by
 Half a MiIe-She Held Her Lead
 Despite the Exertions of Her Rival
 and Finished Winner by a Good
 Margin.
 Bateman's Point, R. l., Aug 31.- After two long months Of hard pre- liminary racing. during which eacn boat had defeated the other el2nt times. the Constitution and Columbia went out to Brenton's Reef hghtsnlp this morning for the first of the series Of trial races to determine which should be the defender of the Ameri- ca's cup against Sir ThmaS Llpton Shamrock IL Both left the harbor in the very pink of condition. Each recognized the others strong points and abilities Those on the Columbia knew the Constitution to be the rul- mfnatiOn of H. c. HerreShofs experl- fence in yacht building and designing, and although handicapped throughout the season by mishaps and her appar- ent inability to find herself, yet she had nevertheless shown herself worthy opponent and a remarkably fast boat on light airs On the other hand. those who trod the decks of the Constitution looked on the Columbia as a perfectly balanced racing ma chine. boat well tried out, beyond the age of experiment. with a skipper and crew thoroughly acquainted with her every move, who worked together like a perfectly geared machine, and final ly with a manager in Edward Morgan who had shown himself a thorough sportsman, a gentlemanly winner and a calm loser. With this wholesome re spect for each other, a respect born at the very beginning of the season when the Columbia won the first race and gradually developed as the balance of wins fiuctuated from one to another, the crews of both yachts were early on deck this morning looking for wind and weather before making the few final preparations for the start. The early morning was beautiful one for racing. The air was clear and inyig- orating. the sky was spotlessly blue, while from the southeast good seven knot breeze was blowing that gave every indication of increasing before II 80. the time set for the start.
 After decks had been washed down the working headsails of both yachts were sent up in stops, and at o'clock the two big mainsails went aloft. On the Constitution much care was taken
  and it was fully half an hour before it was finally in place.
 About the same time the managers went off to the yachts, Mir Duncan going out to the Constitution in his launch while MT Morgan also dropped on the deck of the Columbia, moored right beneath his beautiful villa ct Brenton's Coco.
 The regatta committee came down A.. o1.-r A.Cn and announced that the yachts would be sent over a fifteen-mile windward and leeward course under the regular Americas cup conditions. with the time limit at five hours and a half.
 At 1o:30 ssttlie wind was Southeast and Glowing ten knots: The sea was smooth and the weather was very clear. At this hour the yachts came down from the harbor and stood out for the lightship. The yachts reached the lightship little after 10:30, the Columbia leading. They found that the breeze had hauled a little to east of southeast, and had increased to over ten knots. The Columbia came out with her baby jibtopsail set. in addition to the usual working sails, but it was taken in about II o'clock
 The yachts spent the time before starting in standing off and on about the Hghtship. Just before leaving for the start the committee announced that under the new measurement the Constitution allows the Columbia one minute and eleven seconds over a 30 mile course. This is a decrease of six seconds since the yachts were last measured.
 At 11.20 the signal was given for a fifteen windward and leeward race nd %r.1 1,o !. The preparatory sgnal was fired at 11:30 and the warning signal was giv- en just six minutes later The start ing time as seen from shore was Co umbia II :41-45. and the Constitution 11:43- The Constitution was handi- capped by not starting within two minutes after the gun was fired. The Columbia went off on the starboard tack. but almost immediately tackled on the Constitutions weather bow The Constitution went off on the port tack and the wind at this time was still blowing ten knots. Both yachts headed straight out to sea. and at 11s50 the Columbia was leading by one-eighth of a mile At Point Judith at five minutes past 12 the yachts were In plain view, six miles oR shore They were apparently we'll to
 
 this time lost waht she had gained. At be pulling up on her rival. but at 12:30 she and lost what she had gained At that time the yachts had sailed one half the distance to the first mark The Columbia then was leading by one haf q mile.
 The Columbia turned the outer mark at 1:30,35 and the Constitution at 1920. At 2:36, when the yachts were five miles from the finish. the Columbia was leading the Constitu- ti0n sfill by one-ha1f mile The bal loon jibtopsails were doing good work. but the head sails on the Constitution were poorly set. At 3s03 the Colum- bia crossed the finish line and the Constitution followed at 3:O0:03 The old boat was leading the new one by three minutes and seventeen seconds eIQpsed time and four minutes, fwen- +T-cIEht seconds corrected lime