The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-30
HAD TOO MUCH WIND
WHITE BEAR LAKE DOTTED WITH
THE HULIS OF UPTURNED
BOATS.
EIGHT STARTED IN THE RACE.
ONLY TWO, HOWEVER, FINISHED
GRIGG,s AKELA AND DIR.
WEIGHS CORONA.
NEW COURSE USED FOR FIRST TIME
The Season Promises to Be the Best
in the History of the Club-Eight
New Boats.
EIGHT STARTED IN THE RACE
NEW COURSE USED FOR FIRST r1M1


in the History of the Club-Etght
New Boats.
Z. Yesterday afternoon marked the
opening Of the yachting season at
White Bear lake. The initial race OF
the season was sailed over the new
course. Eight boats started, and only
two finished, c.. M. Griggs' first rate
sloop Akela being first, and followed
by J. M Walshs Corona II. six minutes
later. The actual time was for the
Akela 1:2O:17 and Corona H., 1866.
which is considered excellent time over
the present course, for 1t is longer by
about a quarter of a mile than the old
course. The change Of the White Bear
Yacht associations headquarters from
Dellwood to Ramaley's is a move In the
right direction. Formerly people living
in the city, who wished to witness the
races, had either to start home on an
early train before the races were nm
ished or wait until the night train.
Racing at White Bear promises to be
more popular this year than ever be-
fore. fifty members of the association
owning yachts.
Eight new boats were built this sea-
son, three first-class sloops, two special
class boats and two second-class sloops,
and the officers Of the association are
quite enthusiastic over the outlook
Yesterday dawned with a cloudy sky
and no wind, but II o'clock found the
sun shining brightly and good stiff
breeze blowing. At 2 o'clock a strong
gale sprang UP from the Northwest and
| increased until at 8 o'clock the wind
| was blowing at a rate Of thirty miles
an hour. Racing men say that yester-
| days blow was the worst experienced
since the Fourth of July, 1895, when
only a few boats finished, as was the
case yesterday
At 2:30 the steam launch, Ida, con-
tanning the Judges, steamed out to the
| club house buoy in front Of Ramaley's s.
The judges were W. S. Morton and A
B. Ovitt, and G. H. Bigelow acted as
time keeper. The preparatory gun
was fired at 3:15. The next gun was a
signal for the starting of the cat boats boa,
| there being only two that were willing
to risk the storm, the Alerta, manned
by n. G. Drake, and the Pastime,
| with Col. Appleton as skipper The
Alerta had some difficulty in rounding
the club house buoy and was disqua1-
flied. The Pastime got safely off, but
subsequently dropped out because OF
too much sail.
The next was the special class, other
wise known as the "half-raters.
They were started at $3.50, and not one
of them got to the second buoy. There
has been considerable talk in yachting
circles of late of the good showing this
class of boats would make. But in
yesterdays race they did not come up
to expectations and 1t was evident
that they We're Of little use in rough
weather. It was thought, however, If
these special class boats were sailed
under favorable conditions, they would
make some quick time. At 3:37 the
starting gun for the special class boats
was fired and there Immediately fol-
lowed series of mishaps. Ed
Helmke's Jennie r, upset about ten
rods from the club house buoy and the
occupants of the boat went into the
lake, but they were soon rescued by
boats sent out from shore. Douglass
and Bigelow's Nelka next upset, but
with no serious results. This ended
sofa, owned by Paul II. Gotzian, is said
to be one of the fastest boats of this
class but Mr.. Gotzian did not start his
boat on account Of the storm.
The second class sloops were next
started, five minutes later. D. w. Van
Weeks Falcon cracked her mast after
getting to the center buoy H. P.
sets seemed to be the features Of the
race. The black hulls of the boats
which had upset were turned skyward
and with the centerboard down re-
sembled a whale with large fin
The last boats started were the first
class sloops. They got off safely a
few minutes later, well punched for
started were c. M. Griggs' Akela, L.
P. Ordway's Alfrida, and Messrs Stick
ney and Mead's Go So, and J. M.
Welsh's Corona II. The Akela and
Corona II. kept well together all
around the course. The Go So was
afternoon. After turning the corner
of the island the canvass stretched
and the gaff gave way, compelling
| them to give up the race.
At the time of the accident she was
we'll up with the other boats. The AL
| frida on reaching the center buoy came
near upsetting several times in the
rowly averted by the skillful manage
! ment of the crew. The judges boat
| followed in the course of the boats for
! some time, when she became temporar-
| lily disabled, and it was only under full
| head Of steam that she reached the
| club house in time to take the time of
the boats which finished. The crew OF
the Corona were tempted several times
to give up the race, as, in running free,
she shipped couple Of barrels of water
over her stern
The Akela. the winning boat, was
built by Peterson. of White Bear, on
the same plan as the Tartar. The Tar
tar won several races at Lake Mime
tonka last year, and Mr.. Griggs thinks
the Akela is fully as fast boat, If not
faster. She is thirty-seven feet over
| all, and has what is termed divided
stern, which is said to be preferable to
the round stern.
The new course laid out recently is
very much the same as the old course.
excepting that the start and finish is
made from Ramaley's. The exact dis
! tance is not known, as 1t has not as vet
| been measured, but it will be a little
| longer than the old course.
1t was expected that at least twenty
| five boats would enter the race yester-
day, but the owners did not seem in
clined to take their boats out, and pos
sibly it is well they did not, as win be
seen from the number Of upsets at the
| starting buoy the lake was not safe
| for even the f1rst-rate sloops.
The Duluth limited which leaves ST.
| Paul at 2:15, stopped at Ramaley's yes
| terday, and a large number Of yachts
men and their friends took this train,
/ arriving in plenty of time to witness
tine finish.