The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-10
THE CONSTITUTION AHEAD.
Third Of the Newport Yacht Race
Series in Progress.
The Independence Makes Much
Hctter Showing Than in Previous
Contests. But seems to BE Out
CIaSSed-The Start Pretty One.


NEWPORT. r. l., July 1e.-The third.
and what is expected to be the decisive.
race between the yachts Constitution. Co
umbfa. and Independence, is in progress
off Newport and there is fully as much in
terest displayed as during the previous
contests
It WAS announced by the regatta com
mittee of the Newport Yacht Racing As
sociation this morning that if it was
practicable, tha course for today's compe-
tition would be a hfteen-mile run 10 a
Ieeward mark and a reat home If not.
the course would he reversed. run to
the first mark, providing the wind held
good, was considered TO be very tavora-
bIe to the independence
At II o'clock the committee boat flew
two signals. one Indicating a postpone
ment Of the race until later in the day.
and the other indicating a course Of tif-
! teen miles to windward or IeewdTd and
return Brenton-s Reef Iightship was des-
| ignated as the starting point The Column
| bia arrived at the stakeboat at 1910, the
Constitution and independence following
| shortly afterward. The breeze was then
blowing about five knots from the south
east
/ At f2.35 D. H. the committee boat
hofsted signals indicating that souther1y
/ course Of fifteen miles TO windward and
return would be sailed The wind was
! from the south and had increased to about
/ eight knots.
! The start was one of the prettiest that
( has been seen for long time. all three
yachts being punched right on the line
and crossing it on the starboard tack.
t only few seconds after the starting-gun
fire The unofficial starting time was:
Independence, 12:55:lS.
Constitution. 12:s5:22
| Columbia I2:55:26.
! Although Independence crossed first,
she had the leeward position.
The Constitution was just to windward
7 of her. little astern. about dfty yards
+ separating the two boats while the Co
Iumbia held the same relative position
little astern but 4 trife TO windward Of
the Constitution As seen from shore
one long spread of canvas
After crossing the line the independence
was given a good fun and seemed for the
first five minutes TO outfoot slightly the
/ two EIerreshof boats She appeared,
I however, to fan off to ieeward as in the
/ two previous races and vas apparently a
I quarter OF d mile from the Constitution
I although apparently going along in good
shape. In the same time of sailing Con
/ stitution had not pulled out any on the
/ Columbia The wind at the start was
/ about south. blowing not much over five
! knots
The Columbia tackled to starboard at
1870 and passed short distance under
the Constitution stern. The Constitution
tackled to starboard on the Columbia 5
weather quarter at 1:24, being then the
leading boat. about al eighth Of a mile
ahead Of Columbia and over a quarter OF
4 mile ahead Of the Independence
/ The Independence also tackled to star
board at 1-24.20 During the first half
hour of sailing. owing 10 the wind being
fairly strong, the Independence made d
better showing than at any time during
her racing with the two Herreshof boats
/ At los the Columbia tackled to port.
but the Constitution stood on until Isls. 30
before following her, while the IHdepend-
ence did not tack until III At that time
I the.IndeDendence appeared to nave drop
ped of badly and seemed to be a quarter
Of mile asterh of the Constitution and
| d little 10 Ieeward-
The wind began TO increase after the
yachgs had sailed about two miles and at
! l.25 VS. blowing about seven knots. AT
lis al three yachts were standing out TO
| sea on the port tack. the Columbia out
I ahead of the Constitution. but seeming )
TO ieeward while the Independence ap-
/ parently was a quarter of mile dead
! astern Of the CONSTITUTION Continuing
out. the boats met more wind for the
first time during race The Independ-
ence appeared to be sailing somewhere
near her lines, well heeIed down
The sky early this morning was hidden
by dark lowering clouds which seemed to
BE- vast store houses of wind or rain, OF
both There was big swell on the ocean.
and those who had come out TO see the
race had TO devote about half their attCu-
tIoE To holding on to the deck fixtures.
ThSNwind was blowing steadily from the
northwest. but il was expected To haul
around to the southwark as usual The
prospects FOR a good All day wind. accord
ing to the weather sharps, were good. but
there was no gale in sight. BY 3 O'Clock
the sun began TO bore great holes through
| the grey masses Overhead ana ne WlEd
worked as far as the eastward IL its
journey to the southwark quarter
| Every yachtsmaE in Newport was cut
! early this morning whistIiHg for a breeze
II was not an ordinary sailing breeze that
WAS wanted either. but a good club top
sail blow that would try out the yachts
| thoroughly. The Independence people
wanted ii most Of all. perhaps, but no
yachtsman was far behind them in see-
0nding the wish
| BY virtue of the two races already sail
| ed the capabilities of the three yachts in
light airs have been pretty thoroughly
demonstrated, d and it remained TO be seen
what they would do in good stiff wind
| w B. Duncan, jr-, said this morning
that he did not regard Mondays race as
a good test Of the yachts. The Consti-
tuition" he said must certainly have
| been favored with a better wind than the
other yachts We do not expect many
winds like that % Monday. If the Con-
stitution beats tie Columbia. by three
minutes in good breeze / shall be salts
fled"
| When asked what he thought Of the
Boston yacht Mr.. Duncan said: "Oh. give
her a chance. Every Yacht should be
granted that
| Clayton Haf, Of the Independence. said
that there was no use being rough on the
Lawson yacht, that she would certainly
do better work. Captain Hank Haf also
said that he was not Yet discouraged, and