The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-22
RACE OF THE HALF-RATERS.
WANT OF WIND MAKES IT 4 DRIFT
ING MATCH.

The EtheI,vsnn Has the Advantage al
the weather Berth at the start
Hut spruce N Makes the First
Turn a Pew seconds in Advance.
The American Boat Rapidly over
takes Her Competitor. Though, and
Honors We're Even when IL Was
AEreed 10 can It no Race a.
There Was NO Possible Chance for
Finish.
Center island oyster Ray. Long ISL
and. Sept -l-"No race" Is the result Of
the openinS day OF the series OF races
between j. Arthur Brands half-rater
Spruce ~. representing the Minima
Yacht Club Of England. and T.. J. Fields
ErhclWynn OF The Indian larlor Yacht
Club. the latter being the defender Of
the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club $
1nterna donal challenge trophy Ior small
boats. not exceeding fifteen teet racing
length. The challenger must win three
out Of five races of twelve miles each in
order to take the cup.
To-day's effort was 10 sail a windward
and leeward race, the measured distance
being three miles east by north before
the wind. thence beating to the starting
point. the course TO be gone over twice
TO complete the twelve miles. The force
of what little wind there was from west
by south at the time of beginning the race
is best told by the fact that the seventy
five minutes We're needed TO cover the
three miles before the wind; and the fiuky
character of what breeze there was ar
terWard by the fact that during the next
two hours and a half the racers covered
but little more than mile OF actual dis
lance and towards the shore instead or
toward the point of starting. While the
competing boats finished scarcely more
than "A quarter Of a days work. the show
ing made by Spruce ~ was highly credit
al Skinner Ntrgnn. who sailed hrs
boat in strange waters in manner 70
win the highest praise from an on-lookers
al all familiar with the handling of small
The details of the abortive attempt to
make race are but the story of a drift
ing match. Owing to the size OF the
boats, it was agreed the starting line
should be marked by Center Island spar
buoy and a keg carrying flag anchored
on the off-shore side. To the northward
of the latter Commodore II. G. Benedicts
steam yacht Oneida, carrying the regatta
committed took position soon after noon,
and at l2:S5 O'Clock the preliminary whis-
tie was blown. Ten minutes later the pre-
paratory blast followed, and Shippers
Brand and Ball began 10 jockey for po-
sitiOns. At 1880 O'Clock. when the start
ing signal was sounded, Ethelwynn
had the weather berth and both boats
crossed the line for the run OF three miles
TO leeWard, with bOOms to starb0ard and
spinnakers to port
BY the official figures, Spruce " made
the turn al pos :35 o'Cl0ck. and was greeted
by a chorus Of whistles from large and
small craft such as il is safe to say never
greeted Mr.. Brands ears In al the fifty
three races he sailed Spruce III in En-
glish waters lass year.
The Ethelwynn turned al 2:07.43 o'clock,
and was likewise vigorously greeted
With practically no wind and with tide
setting both boats TO the eastward
Ethelwynn picked up the minutes and
seconds she was behind at the turn, and
at 2.35 o'clock she was in the windward
berth and On even terms with Spruce.
After fruitless attempts to stem the
tide without wind enough to keep sails
dfstended, and there being not the remot-
est chance Of a finish, a brief parley
showed that both crews had all the sun
broiHng they wanted and ii was agreed
at 4:40 o'clock to cali it no race.
FthelW-ynn's launch took both boats In
tow, but in a few minutes Commodore
Benedict, with the Oneida's launch, pass
ed a line to Spruce ~ and soon after
that occasion both contestants were at
anchor off the club house.