The record-union., 1895-03-18
THE AILSA'S FIRST DEFEAT.
Wales Britannia Scores a Victory
Over the Fast Yacht,
THOUGH A POOR TRIAL OF THE
QUALITIES OF THE BOATS.
of the Condition of Affairs
in Cuba as Detailed by Steamship
Passenger just Arrived in Florida
The Spanish Government Sending
Out Reports of Victories When
They Were in Reality Defeats.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.


MONTE CARLO, March 1.-THE Monaco
regatta opened to-day, and the principal
event, the race for the prize offered by the
Prince Of Monaco, was won by the Prince
of Wales Britannia, which gave the Ailsa
her first defeat. The Britannia's victory,
however, did not create the greatest en-
Ihusiasm among impartial yachtsmen,
for the reason that it was gain in poor
trial of the qualities of the respective
boats, and was partly due to the Ailsa
holding her opponent too cheaply.
The race was for the PriX de Prince AL
bert l., open TO all yachts above twenty
tons. The weather was beautiful, but
the wind was light and fiuky, and this,
of course, made an exciting race an i'm
possibility. Considerable doubt was ex
pressed as to whether the Britannia
would start in race on Sunday, owing
mainly to the presence of Queen Victoria
at Cimez. hut this difficulty was overcome
by the Prince not going on board OF his
yacht. He watched the race from the
terrace at Monte Carlo.
The course, which is a distance of fif-
teen miles, was in the shape OF triangle.
The wind was blowing a light breeze
from the southeast when the yachts got
for some time lazily kept lutfing and fill
ing, waiting for the signal TO start.
The competitors were, in addition to
the Allsa and Britannia, the COrsalr and
Nalkyrie l. The first leg were about to
| windward, and all the racers stood off to
the westward with their starbOard tacks
pretty close aboard. The Ailsa could
robably have got off sooner had she so
| desired, out she waited until she could
come around III the Britannia's s weather.
1t took the Ailsa but short time 10 over
| come the thirty-one seconds the Britain
| MIA had gained on the start, and then she
| had the Prince of Wales cutter broad on
her lee beam. blanketing her for time,
and then forged ahead and continued to
| gain until she had but two short bouts TO
reach Cape Marin.
All interest was conferred in the leaders,
and as Cape Marin was reached it was the
general opinion that the Aiisa, barring
accidents, was a sure winner, she having
not only overcome the Britannica s thirty
one seconds lead at the start, but gained a
! lead OF two minutes aud seven seconds.
/ The Cape Marin turning mark was
rounded three times by the leaders.
Ailsa, l2h. ISM. 5Os.; Britannia, l2h.
| 30m. 57m.
What little breeze there was began to
! grow less In weight after the yachts stood
up for Roo queDrune. On this leg the
wind was well ait, and caught straight
on their course. The splnnakers were
! broken out on both the racers. In
short time the breeze freshened a little
| and the Britannia was the first to get the
| beneti. OF it. AS her spinnaker and main
sail filled she shot ahead, and those on
| the Ailsa began to think the stern chase
was going to be shorter one than they
| had at first expected. Soon the Britannia
overhauled the Ailsa and went to the
! front, and rounded the RoQuebrune
! of hn
| Ailsa. the respective times being:
Britannia, l2h., 56m., l0s.; Ailsa, 12h.,
| 56m., 53s.
| ON the run up to the Roquebrune mark
the racers had the wind, which was get
ting more westerly-weu about ait the
| port beam. The Britannia had luffed out
good bit. The Ailsa drew to the wind
ward as well, and the Britannia had
/ lutfed off farther and farther. Both kept
! at IL until they were so far out in the bay
that when they headed for the mark
| they put the wind we'll enough astern to
make Il run for il. The spinnakers were
again set, and the Britannia began to get
I through the water quicker tGan her OPP
! ponent. Slowly but surely she came
! along, and in short time stole into the
lead. Rounding the mark the pair were
overlapped, the Britannia blanketing
Ailsa. This resulted IN the latter having
| to make a short tack to get around, and
in the meantime Britannia fetched
around ana reached for her home with a
| good lead. The times of the finish OF the
second round were:
| Britannia, H., 45m., 40s.; Aiisa, H.,
| 45m., ass.
! Thus Britannia won easily, without
reckoning the time allowed her by the
Ailsa. The actual times occupied in
covering the course were: Britannia,
2h.; 19m.; Ailsa, 2h., 20m.. 34s.; Valkyrie,
2h., 41m.; Corsair, 2h., AIM, los.
Aliens ten rater Dakotah won the race
for her class, easily beating the st. Mar
ciaI