The herald., 1895-03-18
Defeat Met by EngIand's Crack
Yacht AiIsa
BRITANNIA SCORES VICTORY
Close and Exciting Race Opens the
Monaco Regatta
The Aiisa Overcame the Lead OF the Britannia
but Lost Ground in Luffing-The
Time of the Yachts

Monte Carlo, March 1.-THE Monaco
Regatta opened today, 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 5
victory. however, did not create the great
est enthusiasm among imperial yachts
men for the reason it was gained III
poor trial of the qualities of the respect
i've boats and was partly due to the Ailsa
holding her opponent too chcaply. Inc
race was Tor the Prix de Prince Albert |,
open to all yachts above twenty tons.
The weather was beautiful, but the
wind was light ard huky, and this, OF
course, made an exciting race an inn
pos sibility.
Considerable doubt was expressed as to
whether the Britannia would start in
race ON Sunday, owing mainly TO the
presence of Queen Victoria at Cimez, but
this difficulty was overcome by the FRINGE
not going on board his yacht. lie
watched the race from the terrace III
Monte Carlo.
The course, which covered a distance OF
fifteen miles, was in the shape OF trl-
angle. The wind was blowing a light
breeze from the southeast when the yachts
got near the starting line, where they for
some Tune ldZltN kept lulluS anu illlilS1
waiting for the signal to start The COM
petitors were, in addition to the Allsa
and the Britannia, the Coraslr and ' al
kyrie |. The first leg was about to wind
ward and all the racers stood of to east
ward with their starboard tacks pretty
close aboard. Allsa could probably have
got off sooner had she 50 desired but she
waited until she could come around IN
the Britannia s weather.
1t took the Ailsa but short time to
overcome the thirty-one seconds the Brit
ANNA had gained on the start and then
she had the Prince of Wales cutter ON
her lee beam, blanketing her for time,
and then forged ahead and continued to
gain until she had but two short beats TO
reach Cape Martin.
All interest was centerd in the leaders,
and as Cape Martin was reached 1t was
the general opinion that the Allsa, bar
ring accidents was sure winner, she
having not only overcome the Brlttania's
lead at the start, but gained a lead OF two
minutes and seven seconds. The Cape
Martin turning mark was rounded at
these times by the leaders: Ailsa, l2h.
2sm. sos. Britannia, 12h. BON. SIS
What little breeze there was began to
grow less in weigllt after the yachts stood
up for Rogue bruno. On this leg the wind
was well att and caught straight on their
course. Spinnakers were broken out on
both racers. In short time the breeze
the first to get the benefit Of it. AS her
spnnaker and mainsail filled she shot
ahead, and those on the Ailsa began to
think the stern chase was going to be a
shorter one than they had at first eX-
pected. Soon the Britannia overhauled
the Ailsa and went to the 'front.' and
rounded the Roquebrune mark IS seconds
ahead of the Ailsa. their respective
times being
Britannia, 12h. 49m. Ailsa ,12h. 49m.
A..
1t was short and easy reach home.
The Britannia continued to gain slowly
and at the finish of the first round she |
was 43 seconds to the good. The first |
round was finished as follows: Britannia, |
12h. sim los, Ailsa, 12h. 56m. 35s.
On the run up to the Roquebrune mark /
the racers had the wind, which was get
ting more westerly, well about aft the !
port beam.
The Britannia had luffed out a good |
bit. The Ailsa drew to the windward as |
well and the Britannia had luffed up
farther and farther. Both kept at it until |
they were SO far out i'll the bay that when !
they headed for the mark they put the |
wind well enough astern to make a run |
for it. Spinnakers were again set and .
then the Britannia began to get through |
the water quicker than her opponent
Slowly but surely she came along, and in
a short time stole into the lead. Round
ing the mark the yachts overapped, the |
Britannia banketing the Ailsa. This re-
suited in the latter having to make a
short tack to get around, and in the /
meantime the Britannia fetched around
and reached for home with Il good lead.
The time of the finish OF the second
round was: Britannia, III. 45m. 40s
Alsa, III. 45m. 4Ss.
Thus the Britannia won easily without
reckoning the time allowed her by the
AiIsa. The actual time occupied in COW
ering the course was: Britannia, 2:18 700:
Ailsa, 2:20:4; Nalkyrie, 2:47:00; Corsair,
2 A. 10.
Mr. Allen ten-rater Dakotah won the
race for her class easily, beating the st.
Macial.