The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-15

went outside to watch the raee.
when the lightship was reached II was found
that the sea was am Doth. There was the usual
ocean roll coming in from tho westward and
tho wind was light from the north. Several
torredo boats darted out Of the harbor as the
time for starting the racers drew near. among
thom being the Dupont. Morris, Gwynn
and Talbot. They belched out thick
clouds of black smoke as they steamed
about among the yachts, and when they got
to windwarl of any yacht, it was not pleasant
ms thorc were clouds Of dirt and dust In thcir
smoke They helped to make the picture more
picturesque however. and the contrast be-
tween the peaceful yachts and the tiny fighting
machines with their black war paint on was
striking.
At 1880 O'Clock. tho Corsair cana out Of the
harhor. anchorng oil Brcnton's Ree' Liehtsh!p
ntlO:4j O'Clock. The Regatta Committee had
made up their minds what course the yachts
should raco over while on their way down to
the starting line. and the flags X. Y, iiutter-
ing from tho stay told the yachtsmen
that the block Island route had been chosen.
This course Is ~ miles in length. 1t is from
Brenton's Reef Light ship to aud around a stake
boat one milo due east OF Block Island buoy.
leaving il to port to and around stake boat
two mi'es southwest by west from West Island
Light. leaving it to port. finishing IA for the
start The first leg OF the course was thirteen
and n half miles southwest. ono-eiRhth west {:
the second leg, eighteen miles northeast by
east thrce-quarters east. and third leg six and
half miles west by north ons-oighth north
1t would be almost a run to the first mark II
the wind held true. and there was every indi-
cation that 1t would.
The flagship took up her position at right
angles to the course and at 0:5O o clock the
prepuratory signal was fred. This was to give
notice that the soops would be started on their
long journey In Ave minutes and both began to
vancouver for position. The Columbia was to
the southwark OF the lightship aud the Defend
er North OF that mark. Both we're on the port
tack heading in toward the shore at Brenton's
Point The big fleet Of steam yachts. torpedo
boats and excursion steamers gathered on the
eastern side OF tho line and those on
board gathered on the bridges and at the
rails TO watch the yachts and to catch every
move that was made on board. Capt Barr was
at the wheel OF the CoIumb ia and Mr.. Iselin was
Watching things generally. Mrs. Isen occu-
pied her usual position near the companion
way out OF everyones reach and whore she
could see all that was going on. Capt. Rhodes
was at the wheel on the Defender and W. But
Ter Duncan. Jr.. was seeing that the hundred
and one things that GO to help yacht race
fast. were being attended to.
The Defender, when about three minutes OF
the time given to prepare had gone, tackled and
stood for the line She had up her mainsail.
club topsail and fore staysail and her balloon
lib topsail was IN stops. AS the Defender
tackled the Columbi was passing the lghtship.
and Mr.. Issin. who was standing on the lee
ward side, shouted to tho club steamer and
to some OF the steam yachts to keep out
OF the way. 1t was evidently his intention
tl,o I'LL. l.
almost with the gun. but the yachts and excur-
sion steamers forced the Columbia to hold her
course. and she could not tack until the Defen-
der had almost crossed the line. The Colum bia
was smiling under mainsAil. club topsail. jih
and fore staysal. and Ike tho Defender had her
balloon lib tOpsail In stops. At 10 80 tho start
ing gun was fred. The Defender was hon very
near the line. Capt RhUados gave the order to
break out the balloon lib topsail. A dozen
lusty sailors tuggsd at the sheet and the big
sail boiled in the wind as tho boat shot over
the line twenty seconds after tho gun had been
fred. or at 10:55:20. The Columbia Ivy this
time had got clear OF tho excursionists and
stood for the line on the starboard tack.
She had five minutes to reach the line with
out being handicapped. and az she drew near
hor balloon lib topsail was broken out and she
shot over three minutes and twenty nine sec
onds behind the Defender. being timed at
1O:5S:49. The yachts. starting in this way
gave everyone a chance to see what they could
do when each had a fair wind. 1t was Column
bias weather-a light wind and a smooth sea-
As soon as the yachts crossed tho ibis and
forestry sails were lowered. The Defender
headed In towards the Narragansett Pier shore
to take advantage Of the tide there. which was
stronger than 1t was out to sea. and in order to
get the wind further aft and set her spnnaker
to starboard. The Columbia followed in her
wake.
As the two big single stickers went away the
schooners began to draw near the line. Their
preparatory signal was the starting signal OF
the sloops. Tho starting signal Of tho schoon-
ers was fred at IL O'Clock, The Ariel, sailed
by Capt. Jcffries. was the first at the line and
she crossed at IL :00:3l at the Western end
The Amorita was a little to leeward OF the
Ariel. and Capt. Dennis was at the wheel
on that boat. She was timed at tho
IL :0032. The Quisetta was some distance
astern and Capt Har worked across
the line to tho Western end before he shot his
boat over at IL :O2-23. The Colonia, sailed by
Capt Gibson, had to allow lots OF time to each
Of the other schooners. and those in charge Of
this boat elected to cross the limo last She
crossed at II :04 O7. about midway bet
ween tho flagship and the lghtship,
Tho schooners made ono OF the pretti-
est pIFtAyss seen at yacht race this year
Their big main-tcpmast staysais were pulling
well, as were their balloon topsails. They went
through the water fast in spite OF the light air.
which was not more than six knots an hour,
and all stood after the sloops except the Qui-
setta. She laid her course almost straight to
tho whistling buoy of Judith. Whom off Mar
ragansett the Amorlta had passed the Arlel.
Capt. Jeffres having taken that boat we'll into
the shore. The Quiseta. on account OF her
having held straight to her course. had drawn
away from the CoIona
The yachts held In well toward the beach for
about twenty minutes and then the Defenders
crew got tho spinnaker pole out to star
board and ut 4 ;22OO her big sail was broken
out. The Columbia began to get tho spin
maker out as soon as the move on the
Defender was noted. The big sail was
broken ont at 11:2345. The Amorita was
the first OF the schooners to set her big sail
and it was broken Just after the Defender had
set hers. The Ariel and Colonia soon had
theirs up but the Quisetta sailed on for some
minutes with her balloon lib topsal doing
well. The latter was bothered somewhat by
the wash OF the steam yachts. Under the