July 15, 1899.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
83 
New York Y. C. Special Match. 
COLUMBIA — DEFENDER. , 
Thursday, July 6. 
The long looked for match between the old and new 
defenders at last took place, after two postponements, on 
Thursday, July 6, resulting in a victory for the new 
boat, but by a small margin, the amount of which will not 
be known for some time to come. In accordance with the 
popular policy of concealment and mystery, the yachts 
have not been officially measured, and though the measure- 
ment of each is doubtless known to those directly con- 
nected with her, it will not be made public until later in 
the season. The allowance of Columbia to Defender is 
thus an unknown quantity, arid where the finishes are close 
it will not be known which wins. The race was for a $250 
cup, offered by the club to signalize the first formal meet- 
ing of the two famous yachts. The conditions were : 
Start. — The start will be off Sandy Hook or Scotland 
Lightship, as will be signaled. The preparatory signal 
will be made at 11 :30 A. M. 
Courses.— No. 1. (Letter B.) From the starting line 
around a mark fifteen miles to windward, or leeward, and 
return, leaving the mark on the starboard hand. 
No. 2. (Letter T,) From the starting line, ten miles 
around a mark; thence ten miles around a second mark, 
and thence ten miles to finish line, turning the marks on 
the outside of the triangle, to port or starboard, accord- 
ing as the yachts are sent around. 
Starting and finish lines, which will be between a point 
on the flagship Corsair, indicated by a white flag, and the 
mainmast of the lightship, will be at right angles with the 
outward and home courses, respectively. 
Compass courses will be set before the preparatory 
signal is made, and will be kept flying until after the start. 
The signals for Course No. 2 must be read beginning for- 
ward. 
Marks will be floats displaying a red flag with white 
stripe. 
Starting Signals. — Preparatory. A gun will be fired and 
a red ball hoisted. 
Signal for the Start. — Ten minutes later a second gun 
will be fired and another red ball hoisted. 
Handicap Time, — Two minutes later a third gun will be 
fired and both balls will drop. 
Should a signal gun miss fire, a prolonged blast of the 
whistle will be given. 
Recall Signals. — A 3'acbt crossing the line before the 
starting signal is made will be recalled by a blast of the 
wliistle and the display of her private signal. 
Postponement.- — If the start is postponed, a preliminary 
signal will be made by displaying the yacht ensign at the 
fore ten minutes before the preparatory signal. The 
directions for starting will be similar to those already 
stated, with the exception that the signal for the start 
will be made five minutes after the preparatory, instead of 
ten. 
If toward 6 P. M. it becomes apparent that the finish 
will be much delayed, the race will be called off, through 
mutual agreement between the Columbia and the De- 
fender. 
Sandy Hook Lightship.— (Club Code)— T. Q. 
Scotland Lightship. — (Club Code) — ^V. C. 
Start Postponed. — (Club Code) — S. 
Race is Oft".— (Club Code)— L. 
The conditions contained one clause that is peculiar and 
unusual. The preparatory interval was to be ten minutes 
if the race started promptly on time, but in the event of a 
postponement necessitating an extra preliminary signal as 
well as the ordinary preparator}^ signal, the preparatory 
interval was cut down to five minutes. This made a com- 
plication which led Columbia into a late start. 
The two yachts towed from New Rochelle on the after- 
noon of July 5 and anchored off Tompkinsville for the 
night, getting under way just before 9 o'clock next morn- 
ing. The tide was just full when they started; a mist 
hung over the water, and there was but a very light air 
from S.W. Each took a line from a tug and started out 
the Narrows and down the Ship Channel, setting rnainsails 
on the way. It was nearly 11 o'clock when they cast off 
the towlines near the Scotland Lightship, where a fleet of 
steam yachts, tugs and several steamers, the club boat 
Cepheus and some public boats were awaiting them. It 
was some little time later before the handsome new flag- 
ship, Corsair III., came steaming down with the signals 
set for a start from the Sandy Hook Lightship. The 
wind was about south, very light at times, in fact a light 
shower about 10 o'clock had killed it for the time ; the sky 
was cloudy and threatening, and there was a roll to the 
sea, the result of some oft'shore disturbance. Some time 
was spent in setting the clubtopsails to the satisfaction of 
the respective skippers and in getting over to the starting 
line between the flagship and the Sandy Hook Lightship. A 
little after noon the regatta committee, Messrs. S. Nichol- 
son Kane, Chester Griswold and Irving Grinnell, decided 
that it was safe to trust the freshening southerly wind, and 
the signals were set for the triangular course, the first leg 
lying in toward the Jersey beach off Seabright. The 
courses were: S.W. by S. 10 miles, naut., Y^. S. 10 miles 
and N.N.W. Yz W. ro miles; making 30 nautical miles in 
all. The course was nearly the same triangle as that 
sailed_ by Defender and Valkyrie III., in the last race of 
1895, in which Defender was disabled. 
The first gun, at 12:43, was the preliminary, a mere 
notice to look out for the preparatory in another ten 
minutes. The second was fired at 12:53, and shortly 
after Columbia crossed the line in the course of her 
maneuvers for a weather berth, apparently assuming that 
she had the full ten-minute interval to dispose of. She 
stood on for the five minutes while Defender, near the 
west end of the line, luffed around the mark within 
twenty seconds of the starting gun, at 12 :58 :2o. Columbia 
now had to return, crossing the line at i :oo :02, with a 
handicap of two seconds and a berth well astern of 
Defender. 
After crossing on the port tack, Defender made a short 
leg on the other tack, and then came about as Columbia 
crossed, planting herself square on the weather bow of 
her big sister as both headed in for the beach. There 
was a moderate breeze by this time, with an old sea that 
rolled the boats about. It was .soon evident that Columbia 
was doing the better work, pointing a little higher and 
footing as well, and for the first fifteen minutes she over- 
hauled Defender. After a little time, however, it did not 
appear that she had gained much, and within the half-hour 
it was plain that whatever difference there was must be 
credited to Defender. There was no question that the old 
boat, with better fitting canvas, was standing up more 
ably to her work and taking the seas better than Columbia. 
The latter's sails, especially the staysail and clubtopsail, 
were not in the best of shape. She showed a very decided 
angle of heel as compared with Defender, and she did not 
take as kindly to the moderate sea. They made several 
tacks, keeping close comppany, but by the time the middle 
of the leg was reached, Columbia was full in Defender's 
wake. As they came closer 4" shore, the water was 
rather smoother and the wind lighter, and Cohimbia 
began to gain, but she was still in a poor position when the 
two went on starboard tack just after passing the two 
masts of the wrecked steamer Macedonian off Seabright. 
In the effort to get by, Coltunbia made several short tacks 
inshore, Defender tacking each time to cover her, until 
at last the leader was close to the first mark and well able 
to weather it. Here Columbia tried another hitch in- 
shore, which Defender refused to follow, standing for the 
mark with sheets lighted. With a lucky puff to help her, 
Columbia held on for a couple of hundred yards inshore, 
came about, and with lifted sheet ran down for the 
mark, through Defender's weather. Though she had been 
overtaking the older boat for some time, the greatest part 
of the gain was made in the cotirse of a few minutes. The 
first mark was timed: 
Time. Elapsed. Gain. Lead. 
Columbia 2 38 .33 1 38 33 0 02 25 0 02 25 
Defender .....2 39 18 1 40 58 
The sky was dark with an electric storm in the south, 
and the wind was freshening, as both set their No. i jib- 
topsails. Defender's being handled very quickly. That of 
Columbia was sent up with the sheet fouled about the 
stay, but it was very quickly lowered and reset. The 
squall now struck the fleet, with heavy rain and some 
lightning, the two yachts driving along at a high speed. 
The wind worked more to the west, so that they finally 
came to the second mark with booms almost squared to 
port, the times being : 
Time. Elapsed. Gain. Lead. 
Columbia 3 38 01 0 59 28 0 01 33 0 03 58 
Defender 3 40 19 1 01 01 
They jibed over and set baby jibtopsails as the wind, 
though varying from time to time, was hauling ahead. It 
had been expected at the start that this leg would show 
the boats under spinakers. but as it happened they were 
on a close reach for a good part of the distance. Near the 
finish Defender brought up in a bit of breeze that greatly 
lessened her distance from Columbia, the final times 
being : 
Total 
Time. Elap.sed. Gain. Lead. Elapsed. 
Columbia ...4 47 55 1 09 54 0 03 33 3 47 55 
Defender ....4 49 48 1 09 29 0 00 25 3 51 28 
The vagaries of wind and weather made the race less 
interesting and exciting than it at first promised to be; 
at the same time it was well worth seeing, and several im- 
portant points were brought out. As to the old boat, she 
has, in her enlarged rig, a fine suit of canvas, and she is 
well handled, both at the wheel and about the deck. Her 
crew worked smartly all day in handling sails. It is im- 
possible to say just how she compared with her 1895 
form, but all the probabilities are that she is sailing de- 
cidedly faster. Measured by her, Columbia is not as stiff 
and feels the sea more. Thus far her sails are by no 
means perfect, and her crew is not at its best, but these 
defects will doubtless soon disappear under the skillful 
management that worked Vigilant and Defender up to 
racing form. As to stability, she doubtless has ample re- 
serve, and any tenderness at small angles, if at all serious, 
can be remedied by a small reduction of sail and weights. 
While she failed to run away from Defender, and the old 
boat put up a brave fight for first honors, it is certain 
that in a little while Columbia will be the faster by some 
minutes under average racing conditions. Whether she 
will invariably win in a breeze and sea is another and an 
open question. 
Larchmont Y. C. Special Match. 
COLU MBIA — ^DEFENDER. 
Saturday, July 8. 
The Larchmont Y. C. has been very anxious to secure 
a meeting of the two great cutters under its flag, but there 
was always a reluctance to race Defender in the Sound, 
and now there are still deeper reasons why Columbia pre- 
fers the open sea. The efforts of the club, however, aided 
by the generous offer of a $300 cup by Com. Postley, at 
last succeeded in bringing about a match. The date was 
July 8, and a special triangle was laid off on the Sound, 
the base being the usual leg from Larchmont to the Pros- 
pect Point mark. The other two sides were eight miles 
long, the apex being a red dory with the Larchmont 
ball, anchored off Greenwich in the middle of the Sound. 
As ordered, the first leg was E. ^ N., 8 miles, the second 
S.W. by W., 8 miles, and the third N.N.W., 3 miles, mak- 
ing 19 nautical miles in all. This course was to be sailed 
twice. 
Saturday morning was dull and foggy, with no wind, 
but at noon there was a prospect of a race; and a little 
later a nice S.S.W. wind came along, bringing the two 
yachts over from their moorings at New Rochelle. The 
preparatory signal was given at 12:30 and the start at 
12 :40, Defender going over first, within forty-one seconds 
of the whistle, as the result of some clever maneuvering ; 
Columbia being twelve seconds astern. They passed the 
mark with all hands on main sheet on each yacht, Colum- 
bia luffing at once for Defender's starboard quarter, while 
the old boat would have none of it, but hauled up sharp 
from her course down the Sound, and was soon heading 
across for Hempstead Bay. Both carried clubtopsails and 
small jibtopsails, and with a freshening breeze they moved 
very fast. Columbia failed to get by, and the two edged 
off a little toward the course, but were soon at it again, 
with sheets hard in and Matinnicock Point ahead. Iti 
the middle of the Sound they fell in with a tug and a 
long string of barges, bound east, a moving obstruction 
nearly a quarter of a mile long. Defender paid off a 
little and sailed parallel to and just clear of the line of 
barges, Columbia following; they moved faster than tlie 
tow, and finally were able to luff by it and head again for 
the Long Island shore. There was more luffing and 
bearing away, Defender still holding her lead. Finally 
Columbia sighted a dory anchored in the Sound and 
headed for it, believing it to be the mark, Defender fol- 
lowing. It proved to be a mark, but not the mark, being 
one of the Riverside Y. C. dories with red and blue disks, 
set for the Riverside annual regatta, rmder way at the 
time. Neither yacht paid any attention to the fact that 
the signal was not the familiar blue and white ball of 
the Larchmont Y. C, but a very different one, nor could 
the continued whistling of the committee boat attract their 
attention to the mistake. Before it was reached Columbia 
made another bold rush for Defender's weather, but the 
latter ran up her small jibtopsaii again and held her 
place, turning the mark first. As the race was really 
sailed with this as one of the marks, the times were taken: 
Time. Elapsed. Gain. Lead. 
Columbia 1 18 10 0 37 17 0 00 02 ..... 
Defender 1 18 00 0 37 19 0 00 10. 
Defender luffed sharp abottt the mark, and started for 
the Prospect Point mark on port tack, while Columbia 
turned inside and consequently to leeward of her. A 
fresh breeze now roughened the water, and Columbia had 
all the sail she wanted. After a few minutes in company 
on the port tack, she came about and crossed Defender's 
wake, standing on until she could fetch the next mark. 
On this tack and the following one under the Long Island 
shore she gained on Defender, so that when they next 
met the old boat passed well astern of the new one, soon 
after going on port tack for the mark. There was some 
fine sailing on this long leg, the two at their best, under a 
clear summer .sky, with a whole-sail breeze and practically 
smooth water, Columbia ju.st squeezed by the mark, the 
times being: 
Time. Elapsed. 'GaiflV- Lead. 
Columbia 1 54 08 0 35 5S 0 02 02 0 01 52 
Defender 1.56 00 0 38 00 
Spinaker booms were dropped to port, and the big sails 
broken out smartly. Defender's being set but a few seconds 
after Columbia's in spite of the difference in turning. The 
wind was forward of the port quarter, the spinaker guys 
being well slacked off. At the end of the round the boats 
were hailed and notified of their mistake and ordered to 
sail the correct course; but they paid no attention to the 
notice, and again headed for the Riverside buoy. Under 
the circumstances, as the same error was made by both 
and the race was otherwise satisfactory to all, it was 
decided to accept the course actually sailed as official 
The two long legs were each about six miles instead of 
eight, so that the total distance was estimated at thirty 
rniles, instead of thirty-eight, as originally intended. The 
times at the end of the first round were : 
Third leg. Round. 
Time. Elapsed 
Cohimbia ...2 05 06- 0 10 58 
Gain. Lead. EJapsed. 
_ , 0 00 05 0 01 57 1 24 13 
Defender ... .2 07 03 0 11 03 1 26 32 
Spinakers were stowed and booms jibed over at the 
mark, the pair trimming in for a reach doAvn the Sound 
with the wind about on the starboard beam. This suited 
Defender, and she was soon overhauhng the new boat, 
holding up to windward all the time. When she came to 
the Riverside mark Colunibia again turned it, Defetidjer,, of 
course, following. The times were : 
Time. Elapsed. Gain. Lead. 
Columbia ...2 33 30 0 28 24 0 00 50 
Defender 2 34 20 - 0 27 17 0 01 07 
Columbia luffed by the mark, hardened her sheets, and 
stood on for a short distance on starboard tack, then came 
about and headed for the next mark. Defender luffed 
around the mark slowly, losing a little time before she 
swung over and started on port tack. The wind was inore 
southerly and stronger. Defender carried a small jibtop- 
saii, but Columbia had only the two lower headsails ; as it 
was, however, she heeled well at times. The short hitcli 
on starboard tack enabled her to clear the next mark 
easily, while Defender had to squeeze for it. The times 
were : 
Time. Elapsed. Gain. Lead. 
Columbia '.3 08 12 0 34 42 0 02 13 0 03 03 
Defender ,...3 11 15 0 36 55 
Defender handled her spinaker smartly, while Columbia 
not only took a long time with hers, but when it was set 
the stops refused to break on the upper part, and the sheet 
broke away and let the sail over the stay. A small jibtop- 
saii was set to help the spinaker. A thunderstorm was 
hanging about, but the yachts missed it, though they 
caught a part of the attendant breeze. The finish was 
timed : 
Third leg. 
Round. 
Course. 
, „1^'™®- ^•^ips'^'l- Gain. Lead. Elapsed. Gain. Elapsed. Gain. 
l,olumbia...8 24 09 0 15 57 0 813 103 06 01 06 2 4;-) 16 0 3 13 
Defender . .3 27 10 0 15 56 0 00 02 .... 1 04 12 .... 2 46 29 
The race was managed by the regatta committee, J. F. 
Lovejoy, H. W. Coates and Frank Hardv, the tug Pulver. 
the tender of Valkyrie III. in 1895, being the committee 
boat. A number of yachts were under way in attendance 
on the racers. After the finish the two yachts ran into 
New Rochelle under headsails, Defender making her 
moormgs just before Columbia. As the latter came up 
her masthead shroud caught the end of Defender's boom, 
the steel one carried in 189S, and bent it very badly, almost 
at right angles at the main sheet strap. The bent portion 
was cut off next day and the two parts were sent to 
Bristol on the St. Michaels, for repairs. The work may 
take some time, so that it is uncertain when the next race 
will be sailed. The two are scheduled to meet off New- 
port on July 20 and following- days. By July 15 the new 
steel mast for Columbia will be ready to step. If the 
statements as to its weight are true, the" saving being esti- 
mated at nearly one ton over the present wooden spar, 
there will be a decided improvement in her stability. ■ ■ 
Mosquito Fleet Y. C. 
ATLANTIC CITY^ N. J. ' T 
Friday, June 30. 
The Mosquito Fleet Y. C. of Atlantic City sailed : the 
first of a series of races on June 30, in a fresh south 
wmd. The times were : -, • .(.• 
■W Tt T J o^^S""^- Finish. Corrected, 
If- • V • • V - ■ .3 09 29 4 38 39 1 29 10 
Undme, W. B. Loudenslager.. ..,.3 10 12 4 40 48 1 30 36 ' 
^5". I^dw. Evans. .3 10 34 4 34 55 1 24 21 
Ada, B H Bullock 3 Jl 07 4 37 38 . 1 26 31 
Spray, S C. Hmkle ..3 11 27 4 41 07 1 29 26 
■ . Stewart Shinn.. .3 12 28 4 40 05 1 28 00 
