Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-06
HAIL, COLUMBIA!
The Grand Old Defender Is
Very Much Alive.
Shows New Herreshoff Boat Her Heels,
Same as Last One.
Sir Tom, This May Encourage You, but
Please Wait!

Glen Cove. L. l., May Sit required
just 90 minutes for the peerless cup de-
,cndcr Columbia to demonstrate, today,
that in light wind and beating to
windward she is a better boat than the
new Herreshofr cup yacht Reliance.
Starting fIcm position to leeward
and slightly astern of the Reliance, the
Columbia sailed through the new boats
lee, tackled across her bow and in the
next leg, of mile and a half, increased
her lead to nearly quarter of mile.
Reliance then withdrew.
When the Columbia went through
her lee the Reliance kept off and vol
unfairly gave up the advantage of her
windward position, but she was none
the less dccisively and empha tically
outSailed.
This was the first brush between the
two boats. The sea was as smooth as
a pond. The two boats with the Con-
stitution had been out for o spin in an
air that was little better than calm
Columbia left her moorngs here
shortly before 8 p M, and stood off in
to the sound. A quarter of an hour
later the Reliance got under way at
New Rochelle, and still later the Con-
stitutiOn left Glen Cove for a spin. The
boats were five miles apart and moving
slowly. After sailing about in that
fashion a while the Columbia headed
for Glen Cove, at 4.30, close hauled in a
light southwest wind.
Reliance had caught a freshening
breeze, and. setting big jibtopsail,
went remping off down the sound to
off hn
sailing carried her to a point little
ahead of and to the windward of the
Columbia.
Both boats carried mainsail staysail,
working jib and small topsail. Reliance
was carrying a reaching jibtopsail,
while the Columbia wore a baby one,
better fitted for windward work. Re-
lance held her position only few min
utes. AS the breeze freshened the Co.
lumbia drew up on her rival in aston
ishing fashion, ran by her to leeward
and in 10 minutes was leading the new
boat by lengths. Columbia healed east
W. while the Reliance stood up much
moro stiffly, though carrying more cam
vas.
With the Columbia leading under her
lee bow, Reliance kept off and fell into
her wake nearly 200 yards astern. AS
they tackled both boats took in their
jibtopsailS and stood across the mouth
of the harbOr, the Columbia to wind
ward and leading. Though Capt. Barr
gave the Reliance hard full and then
pinched her into the wind the Column
bia steadily drew away from her, SEEM
ing to go faster and sail nearer to the
wind Roth hn1t & hold This. To- fnr
about s minutes and then Columbia
came about and headed for her moor
ings.
Reliance followed her about in about
half a minute and then the Columbia s
lead became apparent. She was a
quarter of a mile ahead. Reliance fol-
lowed in her wake, but the Columbia
was easily dropping her, seeming to
carry the wind better. Half way to the
moorings the Reliance tackled and
started for New Rochelle, meeting the
Constitution, which had taken no part
in their first brush.
1t is clear that despite her greater
sail area the Reliance is ourclassed by
the Columbia in a light wind, even if
The sea be smooth, though her greater
sail area, made possible by her power
full hull. was expected to enable her to
give good account of herself even in
the sound zephyrs. She stood up too
stiffly, while Columbia quickly went
down to her sailing lines
TQdaYS performance raises grave
doubts whether Designer Herreshoff' S
second attempt to build a boat to beat
the Columbia is any more of a success
than his first