New-York tribune., 1896-06-05
KAISERS METEOR A FLYER.
SHE LEAVES THE CRACK BRITISH CUT
TIERS FAR IN HER WAKE.
THE BRITANNIA SAILS SECOND IN THE ROYAL
LONDON YACHT CLUB REGATTA-THE

LONDON YACHT CLUB REGATTA-THE
AILsA THIRD
London. June 4.-The new cutter Meteor built
for Emperor William Of Germany by d. & w.
Henderson. after designs by G. L. Watson, proved
herself a fast craft IN the regatta to-day of the
Royal London Yacht Club. the first race in which
she has taken part. OF the other big cutters in
the race. the Britannia. owned by the Prince Of
Wales was the only that a; any time had the
slightest chance of holding her against the
German boat. and this chance faded into nothing
ness when the Meteor began to reach for home
Judging from to-day's performance of the
Meteor 1t is believed that she Is the most speedy
big cutter in light wind that has ever beer
constructed in Great Britain. and some yachting
experts assert that In blow she will prove her
self dangerous rival to any racing craft ahoat
She Is. of course. not yet perfectly tuned to racing
pitch. and sh. has not yet found herself; but
from every indication she Is a good and
considerable improvement on Nalkyrie III. the
last defeated English contestant for the Amer
icas Cup which was also designed by Mr.. Wat
and built by the Hendersons.
The course to-day the regular of the
Royal London Yacht Club at the mouth of the
Thames. 1t extended from off the cement works
in the Lower Hope to and around the Mouse
Iightship and then back to Gravescnd. a dis
tance OF about fifty miles.
The starters in the race for the large raters
were. In addition to the Meteor the Prince Of
Waless Britannia, A. Barclay Walkers Ailsa
c. d. Roses Satanita. John Gretton. trs Hester
Peter Donaldson's Isolde. W. II. Walkers Caress
and the Corsair
GREAT INTEREST IN THE RACE.
Early In tie morning the prospects for race
were not promising. there being little or No air
stirring Later. however. a breeze sprang up
and, very light though 1t was. It held throughout
the day. blowing always from the South.
Much interest taken In the race among
yachtsmen. for IT was known that In the Meteor
Mr.. Watson had used every resource OF his
science In laying down the lines Of boat TO beat
anything he has heretofore designed. When the
Meteor hoiJted her mainsail in her making ready
for the start there We're many CALCULATIONS Of
surprise among those who had not seen her rae
ing canvass. She has the largest sail spread ever
put on a single -stickcr her sail area being much
greater than that Of Valkyric III. Her over
hang was seen II be very like that OF the latter
Her tor~ails were blue. with gold band. She
was without exception. one Of the most powerful
looking racing craft ever seen In English waters
and her sailing to-day showed that In her case
appearances were not deceptive.
At 1910 o'clock the first gun was fred. and
the yachts began TO go down for the line The
Meteor had worked herself into the best position
and went the lire. holding the weather
position at 12l7l0. followed b, the Britannia
at 1217:50. The Hester and Allsa crossed close
together, the others trailing behind.
THE BRITANNIA LEADS FOR AWHILE.
A few minutes after the start WAS made the
wind freshened a little and the Britannia. which
had dropped fully ten lengths sstern. got th-
first of 1t. and. carrying II with her caught up
with the Meteor and passed her to windward.
Shortly afterward the Meteor broke out her
enormous splnnaker. and the others at once fol-
lowed her example The yachts had not run
far however. before the wind shifted and cam-
out of the east. Spinnakers were taken In and
the racers stood off on the por, tack. heading for
ThameshaVen.
After passing the Meteor the Britannia con
tinued to add TO her advantage. and when sh"
OFF Thamcshaven she was about half
mile in the lead. doing some very pretty sailing
The Meteor was also sailing well She war tax
ing full advantage Of The strong ebb tide. ana
was keeping as close as safety permitted to the
Essex shore where she felt the full force Of the
seaward flow of the river. She gained gradu-
ally on the Britannia. which later. and before
the Meteor, into the first OF the Hood tide
and at once began 10 lose way. The Ailsa at
this stage of the race. was the last boat OF the
fleet
AS tho river widened at the mouth the yachts
were enabled to make longer tacks. The Meteor
continued to gain. and when she struck the hIst
Of the returning tide she made much better
progress than the Britannia The two boats
were now getting close together. Though on on
ferent boards, and the yachting experts began 10
calculate which was really ahead. The calcula-
tOns had not progressed very far when the
German boat went about. took the weather
berth and passed the Prince of Wales's cutter
much 10 the chagrin. 1t must be said. OF the
prip
admitted that the Meteor was being splenddly
handled and was sailing beautifully 1t was
now o'clock. The Britannia held on pretty
closely to the leader. but found II impossible
to gain an inch on her The two leaders were
now reaching for the Mouse Lightship. around
which they gybed at these times
ne Meteor ..3:4727 The Britannia ...3;55 i3
The ether yachts were hopelessly astern and
were not timed by the representative or the
United Press who followed the race throughout
Once around the lightship the boats had
free reach for the Lower Hore.
THE GAP WIDENING.
On this point OF sailing the Meteor showed
herself surprisingly fast IN the light breeze pre-
yailing. She continued to open the gap between
herself and the Britannia, and IT was soon seen
that II no accident happened to her she was safe
70 defeat the crack English racers.
The curve In the river from the Lower Hope
TO Gravesend compelled the boats 70 make short
boards 10 the finishing line at the latter place
The britannia, handled superbly struggled
gamcly on, but there was no hope Tor her. eN-
cen, 70 cut down her rivals lead somewhat.
The tlrles of the four which first finished were
as follows:
There haa Deen several changes In the rea-
tive nostions Of the other participants before
and after they rounded the lightship but from
start to finish they were practicahy out OF 'ie
,r.. u.,., The Ailfa ;oi iot
The I,ritanria 6t7:07 The sa'anita o' 10
Not much enthusiasm was maniftsiec when
the Meteor won but there were cheers. blowing
OF whistles and paying bN thc oihuS on IN, 1ne
,har. 80 lie vh, -, the britannia arrived. The
prize for the winner was tGo. ai'd ior the Sec
ond 80 ,,,,.,,,, ,