The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-09
THE RACE DECLARED OFF
THE PILOT BOAT COURSE NOT
SAILED IN SEVEN HOURS.

Almost a Dead Cal1. on the Ocean
Four Boats Enter the Regatta-rhe
winners Barred from the Prizes by
the Time allowed for the Race-The
Frances Elizabeth Crosses the Line
at the Finish IA Minutes and Eight
Seconds over Seven Hours-The
Neca Crosses a Minute and q Ealf
Later.
The Charleston boat, Frances Elizabeth,
was the first TO cross the line yesterday af-
/ ternoon in the pilot boat regatta going out
ward and on the return, although she had
/ no time to spare. The MEGA was close be-
| hind, and although the Charleston boat was
| a winner under the time allowance by
minute and 81 seconds, the elapsed time
was in favor of tie Neca by l minute and
| 90 seconds.
! Under the rules the course had to be
! sailed over in seven hours or no race, and,
as none Of the vessels made 1t in that limit,
the sailing committee declared the race Off
| The day was pretty one for land sports,
| but 1t was bad day for a regatta, as it
was a dead calm. The boats were to b We
| started at 12 O'Clock noon, but at that hour
not a breath of air was stirring. Finally,
| when a very slighs breeze was noticeable
outside the bar, It nearly O'clock
two Of the pilot boats, the Sprite
and the StOddard, had to be
taken in tow off Tybee dock By the tug
Cynthia ana were cast Off near the inner
bell buoy off Tycee light, from where the
start was made.
FOUR BOATS START.
There were only four boats reported:
Tho ErauNoa EiizabAth of Char nv
Capt. Swan.
The Neca of Savannah, by Capt Proctor.
The Sprite Of Savannah, by Capt. Fisz-
gerald
The John Stoddard of Beaufort, by Capt
O'Brien.
The boats got of fairly well together, the
Frances Eliza eth crossing the line first,
followed closely by the Stoddard, Neca and
Sprite. The Stoddard was not long in the
race, and did not round the north breaker
buoy going outw nd. She was soon lost to
sight and did not finish.
AT 3 :25 she Neca overhauled the Charles
ton boat, and for three minutes the two ran
so closely together that they appeared to be
but one boat The Neca at the ED Of that
time forged ahead amid cheers from the
| crowd on the Yacht Glance and other craft
which accompanied the pilot boats part of
| the way on the outward course. The Neca
and Frances Elizabeth sailed we'll to wind
ward and the SpriJe closer in shore. At
the outer sea buoy the Neca had gained ali
the time Of the start ahead of her by the
| Charleston boat and l minute and %
seconds more, and the Sprite had mate
rally reduced the difference in the time of
staring
| Both the Savannah boats were doing
better than the pennant winner Of last year.
THE MEGA AT THE TURNING BUOY.
| The Neca rounded the Warsaw buoy at
| 6:27, the Sprite ut 6:2S:30, and the Frances
| Elizabeth at 6.37:54 and every one thought
she would tail the race. But on the return
the Charleston boat laid clear TO the wind
and gradually gained on the leaders. The
| top sails Of the Savannah boats we're limp as
rags. They could not get breeze, a d they
| winged sails to do the best they could in the
calm. The Frances Elizabeth had no sooner
rounded Warsaw buoy than she winged
sails and caught a breeze which she brought
| up with her. and slowly crept up on her
| competitors, finally got the lead, and main
tanned it to the close CT the race. With a
fair wind she would have been badly beaten
by both the Neca and the Sprite, as the
| latter had gained the time allowance and 3
| minutes u seconds to spare up to the time
| Warsaw buoy was rounded, but the excel
lent seamanship of Cap. Swan and tne
| advantage his boat has in a light breeze,
were too much to overcome.
The beats were heartily cheered as they
| crossed the line at the finish, and three
cheers were given for Capt. Swan aid his
crew on board the Neca, hich were re-
ciprocated by three cheers aud tiger on
the Carolina craft.
THE TIME.
The following are the events: Pilot boat
| regatta. From the inner bell buoy to the
outer buoy off Warsaw, and return. Dis
lance thirtv-two miles. Measure mems
| Sprite, 81 feet s inches; allows Neca, 63
feet 10 inches, time allowa zee minutes 10
seconds. Frances Elizabeth. 90 feet )
inches; time allowance 6 minutes 8 seconds.
Stoddard, 81 feet 10 inches; time allowance
10 minutes 40 seconds
ELAPSED Corct'd
Start Finish. time. time.
Sprite ........... 25S21 10:16:00 7:22 81 7;22:39
Neca ............ 2;52:20 l0;ll:l5 71S:55 7:l5:45
Frances Elzab'h 248:a l0:0S:45 7:20:11 7:i4:03
THE RACE FROM TIE CYNTHIA.
The tug Cynthia with the sailing com,
mittee timers followed over the entire
| course, and refreshments were served Ia
them and the guests. 1t was l0:40 O'Clock
last night when the Cynthia picked up the
principal part of the crew of the Neca and
got under way for the city, reaching her
| dock at midnight, after a run of only one
hour and twenty minutes
The only accident OF the trip was not q
serious one. just as the Cynthia got under
way, Mr. Melville Proctor, son of Capt
| Proctor, while aft stumbled and fell g.,
striking his head violently against the tugs
rail, rendering him insensible. He la in a
faint for fully five minutes, but was re-
| vived
| Commodore Demere, with the Ocean
| Queen; Rear Commodore f. S. Lathrop
with the Glance, and w. G.. Lathrap. with
| his steam yacht SALISBURY, were at Tybee.
| and the Lsthrops, with their yachts went
part Of o way over the course. The
steamers Governor Stafford and St Nicholas
brought down larga party OF excIrsi )nists,
| going OUT as far as the North breaker.
| On the return Of the Cynthia splendid
view was had OF the fire works that were
set off on the island. The trip on the tug
was an enjoyable one and q merrier
party has seldom gone to sea than that
| Commodore Kinsey served as skipper for
| yesterday.
1t is probable that the Southern Travel
er' Association win award the prizes 70 the
\ winners IN the race, although the sailing
| CO nmitteo had not the authority 70 do So.
| Inasmuch, however, as the boats went 10
4 considerable expense in preparing Tor al
| carrying out the race, aud in recognition OF
( its closeuesi and the pleasure afforded TIE
| large crowd Of sights,crs whi:n won't 70
witness to race, tire sociatioa appreciates
aud viii do the handsome thing.
A SCHOOL OF DEVIL FISH.