The San Francisco call., 1896-06-05
METEOR BEATS BRIrANNIA.
Emperor Fillian's Yacht Faster Thar
Wdles' Cutter.

emperor HtItt6u's 1dcht raster thGf'
Wales Cutter.
LONDON, ENG, June 4-The new cut
ter, Meteor, built for Emperor William of
Germany by D. and w. Henderson, after
designs by 6. L. Watson. proved herself q
fast craft in the regatta to-day OF the
Royal London Yacht Club, the first race
in which she has taken part.
Of the big cutters in the race the
Britannia, owned by the Prince of Wales,
was the only one that at any time had the
slightest chance of holding her own
against the former boat and this chance
faded into nothingness when the Meteor
began to reach for home.
Judging from to-day's performance Of
the Meteor it is believed that she is the
most SPEEDY big cutter in light wind that
has ev er been built in England, and ex'
perts say that in blow she will prove her
self a dangerous rival of any racing craft
afoat.
The course extends a distance of about
fifty miles. The starters in the race OF the
large raters were the Britannia, Satanita,
Ailsa, Hester, Isolde, Caress and the Cor
sair. When the Meteor hoisted her main
sail in her making ready for the start
there we're many CALCULATIONS Of surprise
oS~AA A~NA
| canvas.
She has the largest sails spread ever put
on single sticker, her sail area being
much greater than that of the Valkyrie
III.
At 1910 the Meteor went over the line,
holding the weather position, followed by
| the Britannia, the others trailing behind
A few minutes after the start was made
the wind freshened a little and the
Britannia caught up with the Meteor and
passed her to windward. After passing
| the Meteor the Britannia continued to add
to her advantage and when she was off
the Thames Haven she was a half mile in
the lead, doing some very pretty sailing.
Tie Meteor was also sailing well. She
gained gradually on the Britannia, which
| later and before the Meteor ran into the
first of the food tide and at once COM
| menced to lose way. AS the river wide
ened at its mouth, the yachts were enabled
to make longer tacks, the Meteor began
to gain and when she stuck the first of the
returning tide she made better progress
than the Brittanla.
The two boats were now getting close
together, though on different boards, and
the yachting experts began to calculate
which was really ahead. The calculations
had not progressed very far when the
German boat went about, took the weather
berth and passed the Prince of Wales cut
ter. The Britannia held pretty close to
the leader, but found it impossible to gain
an inch.
The others were hopelessly astern. At
the lightship the boats had good reach
for the Lower Hope. On this point of sail
ing the Meteor showed herself superior in
the light breeze prevailing. She continued
to open the gap between herself and the
Britannia, and it was soon seen that If no
accident occurred to her she was safe to
defeat the crack English racers.
The Britannia, handled superbly, strug-
gled gamely on, but there was no hope for
her except to cut down her rivals lead
somewhat The Meteor won the first
prize, ESQ, and the Britannia second, f25.
The times Of the yachts crossing the
finish were as follows: Meteor, 6:33 30
Britannia 6:47:0 :07; Ailsa, 7:O1 :07; Satan
ita, 7:04:15.