The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-27
LOST THE RACE BY A FOUL.
THE DRAGON COUNTED OUT BY
THE SAILING COMMITTEE.

The savannah Yacht Clubs Annual
Regatta n brilliant One-The Cora
Carried OF the Prize in the First
CIass-The Catherine, LiIee and
Lizzie the winners in the other
Events-The Day an Ideal One for
Yachtsmen-The Club House a
Merry scene.
The annual regatta of the Savannah
Yacht Club was sailed yesterday over the
Thunderbolt course. The chief interest
centered in the new yacht Dragon, which
has all along been counted a winner A
foul, however, lost her the prize, and the
victory In the first class.
The scene at the CLUB house preceding
the race was a brilliant one. The river
was filed with the craft that were TO try
for the honors and ali Of them were ar
rayed in holiday attire. From the time
that the contesting yachts crossed the line
until the finish of the race there was
continuous excitement. varied occasional
ly by The cheers with which the adherents
Of some one of the flyers hailed a maneu-
yer that secured an advantage.
The steamer Clifton took out
from the city a large number of
the members of the club and
their guests. At the club house there
were many additions to the crowd that
thronged the decks of the steamer and
throughout the race the Clifton was in the
condition in which the sign standing room
only" might have been properly displayed.
The lady friends of the yachtsmen were
out in full force and their presence lent
gaiety to the scene, and encouragement
to the crews of the contesting yachts
The start was made at u o'clock. The
boats of the first class got promptly off.
There was a good deal of sailing and trim
ming of sails before this time To the
casual observer the yachts appeared to be
in apparently inextricable confusion aud
each seemed in be in imminent danger
of colliding with some other and putting
her out of the race. Indeed, an acct
dent of this kind did happen The Sham
rock, Mr.. Cecil Gabbetts yacht ran her
bowsprit into the May b., tearing the
shamrocks mainsail, crushing in the side
of The May b. and putting her out of the
contest. The riff in the sail of the Sham
rock was hurriedly repaired.
In the hrst class the Yum Yum crossed
the line three minutes ahead of her RI
walls, and started In a spanking breeze.
She was followed by the Cora, Leader and
Dragon. AS the Dragon went over The
line there were cheers from the crowds on
the Clifton, on the Yacht Club pier and
along the shore. With the breeze filling
every sail, and carrying her along at
top speed, the cup-winner of the fleet pre-
scented a bpautiful anrlaara0ca
The yachts In the other classes were
started at intervals of ten minutes The
starting gun was fired promptly, and there
was no delay. At the start and for some
time thereafter, there was a stiff breeze,
aud the yachts began the race with all
of the elements in their favor.
The Clifton accompanied the yachts over
the course, and was followed by the reve-
nue. cutter and several launches belong
ing to members of the club The plans
that the yachtsmen adopted to secure an
advantage, the course followed to catch
the full force Of the tide and
currents, and every skillful shift
of helm or sails were watched,
appreciated and applauded by those on the
deck Of the attending vessels
The breeze died down TO some extent be-
fore the yachts had completed the course,
but freshened again at the finish.
In the early part of the race the Dragon
fouled the Leader, the bow-sprit of the cup
winner scraping the sail of her rival. on
this account the Dragon lost the race, the
sailing committee deciding that the foul
prevented her taking the prize, although
her actuaf time was twenty minutes less
than any of the yachts in her class.
The corrected time according to length
of yacht and the actual time. of sailing,
in the first class, was as follows;