The record-union., 1896-08-25
RACE OFF FOR THE DAY.
NOT ENOUGH WIND FOR THE
YACHTS AT TOLEDO.
The Vessels Simply Drifted About
for Four Hours, the Canadian
Boat in the Lead.

TOLEDO O), Aug. 24-The attempt
to sail the first international race be-
tween the Canada and Vencedor for the
interlake yachting championship on
Lake Erie, off Toledo, resulted in
failure on account of a lack of wind
as the Regatta Committee declared the
race off at j p. m, after the yachts had
drifted about for four hours. When the
race was called the Canada, which had
a lead of over a mile, had only covered
about six miles, or about a quarter of
the course, and was half way between
the first and second marks on the first
round.
The race was witnessed by a big
crowd of spectators, and nearly a hum
dred steamers and sailing craft fol-
lowed the yachts over the course.
Canadians were naturally elated
over the showing of their champion,
while the American yachtsmen were
glum over the result. AS matter Of
fact, the original changes have handi-
capped the Vencedor so that it will be
little short of a miracle if she wins in
light wind, though she will undoubt-
edly do well in a blow AS it is she is
justice.
The course to-day was a triangular
one Of twelve miles, four miles to the
leg, and sailed over twice.
At 1000 a gun was fired from the
steam yacht Sigma as a signal for the
yachts to get ready to start, and they
slowly shifted their positions to the
windward end of the line and began
joCkeying for the weather berth The
Canada moved through the water at
quite lively rate, considering the al
most imperceptible wind that was
blowing, While the Vencedor had hard
ly steerage way. When the starting
signal was given at II o'clock both
yachts hauled on the wind on the star
beard tack and headed for the line
The Canada ran up the Vencedor
weather quarter and set a big jib top
sail and balloon forestay sail, which,
as she forged ahead blanketed the Chi
cago boat and left her in the doldrums
as she went over the line.
1t was some time before the Vencedor
felt the wind again, but in the mean
time had run up small jib topsail and
began to gather headway, and crossed
the line with little more than steerage
way on her. The Canada came about
on the port tack at 11:23, and stood
across the Vencedor's bows and again
taking the wind out of her sails just as
she began to fill again the Canada had
gone about and was on her weather
quarter, and in a short time had
cleared and was we'll to windward, and
gone to the westward hunting wind.
At 11:40 the Vencedor went about on
the port tack in such a light air that
she was forty seconds in stays, and
then stood well to the north where it
looked as though there might be
breeze.
In all this time the yachts had not
sailed a quarter of mile. Each held
on and at 40 the Canada came
about on the port tack and stood after
the Vencedor. At 11:55 the wind
shifted to the east of north, and came
out with enough strength for the first
time to fill the sails. and then the
yachts We're able to lay their course
on the starboard tack for the stake
boat with the wind abeam. The Cam
ada then, with her bigger proportionate
sail area. began to draw rapidly away
ed along, and by the time the Canada
turned the mark at 1:13:40 she was a
mile in the lead. AS soon as the Can
ada turned and stool off on the star
beard tack the Vencedor's sp;nnaker
was set to starboard, but it did her no
good, as there was not wind enough to
fill it, and it blanketed her head sails
At lao she rounded the stake boat
and headed after the Canada, which
slowly continued drawing away, until
at 3 o'clock the wind dropped to fat
calm, and a few moments later the
Regatta Committee declared the race
Oft for the day, as it was impossible to
finish it within the required five and
half hours time limit.
The yachts will sail over the same
course tomorrow.