The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-31
[Sketched yesterday by a "Cau" artist

I the first class, in which were included the
big boats. Among them were the Edna,
the Dawn, the Speedwell, Harpoon and
Thelma.
In the second class, including boats
of the thirty foot class were the
Freda, Naiad, Kara, Truant and the Wave.
There were twenty-seven boats entered in
all, but when it came to the race only thir-
teen boats ventured in the swim.
| The first to go over the line in the small
class was the Witch. Next came the Ceres,
then followed the Mignon and the Secret,
bowling over the course with all sails set,
and the Cupid in her wake. The Truant,
little bit late, in fact too late to have her
time taken, was left far behind.
The Freda went bowling over the line
with ali sails set and looking in every way
like winner. Had size maintained her
gait throughout as when passing the line
no doubt she would have been winner to
the end, but when gong off on the port
tack something happened to her that
! stopped her race down to the windward
buoy. She tackled in close to shore and
there had to give up the race, and the
Truant went skimming down to the first
| leg as if she had not competitor among
| her own kind.
In the class of large boats, the Speedwell
was the center of interest. She had n OF
been tried, but the fact that Eddie Howard
was at the wheel lent additional interest to
the new craft. 1t was supposed that the
Harpoon and the Thelma would cut the
pace in the first class, but the fact that
Howard sailed the Speedwell left the re-
suit open to serious doubts, which had a
| depressing effect on betting on the race.
| Gnino down tho firct 1or tho Hor
Rugged the shore. Being a much deeper
boat than the others, it was feared that she
| would ground and this was Just exactly
what she did. She came under the lee OF
the old Selby smelling works and 1t looked
as if she was destined to lie ingloriously
in the mud all day, but contrary to ex-
pectation, she worked out on her jib, and
at the time she came round the Speedwell
was we'll in the lead. Closely following in
her wake, tack and tack, came the Edna
and the speedy Truant It was remark
able the way in which Commodore Pew's
boat kept up with the big fellows.
When nearing up close upon the wind
the Speedwell was trying to pass to the
starboard and they yelled in chorus, just
in time for the new boat to slack her main
| sheet and pass the buoy on the port hand.
Just here the Speedwell won her race.
If it had not been for Pew's good fellows
giving her the right signal, she would have
passed the buoy on the starboard hand
misunderstanding on the part of new craft
was caused by her crew not having studied
the rules of the race. The Speedwell
rounded the buoy first with her gaff top
sails set and her spinnaker ready for use.
The spinnaker was just out of the cabin by
the command of her wheelman, but the
crew did not getit set until she was we'll
abreast of AlcatraZ. But without it she
could have kept her lead to Blossom Rock
buoy. From there to the leeward stake
boat the wind was very light and battling.
1t was down around the ]eeward stake
boat that the most sensational occurrence
of the race took place. The breeze in the
twelve knots an hour, and up to this time
it was great day for the Corinthian Yacht
Club. Rounding Blossom Rock buoy the
wind died down to standstill. The
Secret was forging slowly ahead, with the
Witch on her quarter. When the wind
but with all sail set she could not make a
iaunt to the forward. The Witch was
right behind her, everything set, with her
| watersail out, but still tagging in the calm.
Both yachts remained in this position
until the big craft came up behind them.
The Witch was the first to catch the wind.
She sailed up with all her canvas bellied
of the race.
With everything in favor of the little
yachts the larger craft came up right in
their wake The prettiest sight of the race
was rounding the leeward stakeboat. The
Thelma came jauntily up to the windward
of the Edna. The new craft had blanketed
the Edna which, however, showed ahead
and got away from the windward boat
The Truant was making the pace of the
race around the stakeboat with the Secret
right to her head. In came the Edna just
narrowly escaping the Ihel nj around the
i 1t looked like a foul from the judges tug
boat, butthose who knew what good racing
was declared in favor of the Edna. The
latter craft rounded the boat, making a
short tack, and steered down for the Pre-
sidio shoa1 buoy.
The Speedwell, which was destined to