The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-27

observation-disclosures heats ConstNu'
ton ny 2 Minutes 81 Seconds and
Columbia by Is Minutes 81 seconds
Now boat Allows Tine to Other Two
and May He Beaten by Constitution
The Reliance in race twic, around a
fftecn-mi triangle yesterday, on thu
Sound, In braeze varying from seven
to twelve miles in strength, with a
few of the pufrs perhaps little harder,
heat the Constitution by minutes and
Fl seconds actual tim, and thu Columbia
by Is minutes and 81 seconds. The yachts
have not yet bacn measured, but 1t has
been closely estimated that the Reliance'S
racing length is about lOs feet and the
Constitutions about lO4. On these figures
the Constitution would receive an allow
ance Of minute and 81 seconds on thirty
mile race, so that on corrected time thu
Reliance would win from the Constitution
by "a seconds. If the Reliance's racin.
leagth is over l0s feet then tho Constitu-
ton is probably a winner.
From spectacular standpoint the rao"
was one of tho grandest that have been wit
messed between boats of the ao-foot class.
They started well punched, with the VA
lance in the lead, Columbia under her lce
quarter, and Constitution half minute
astern. No. jib topsails were carried
The wind was south southeast and the
course Of the first leg was east half north.
This gave the wind to them Just forward
Of the beam. 1t frcshened as the yachts
drew on toward Oyster Bay. and as they
passed the entrance Of that harbor the
Reliance heeled considerably.
The Constitution stuck closely 70 thu
Reliance, and at the end of the first mark
she had gained seven seconds, while the
Columbia was beaten minutes seconds
by the Constitution, They gybed at this
mark and, with the wind over the port
quarter, had reach for four and half
miles. The wind softened considerably "a
they ncared the other side OF the Sound.
As long as the breeze was fresh the Consti-
tuition stuck to the Reliance. Both yachts
we're holding high above their courses. and
when about half mile from the mark
they were able to carry spinnakers Capt,
Rhodes had held the Constitution q little
to windward of the Reliance.
just before the spinnaker was broken
out on the new yacht Capt. Barr gave her
a sharp huff and Capt. Rhodes, thinking the
Constitution could pull through the new
boats lee and run for the mark, bore off.
Spinnakers were set at once and the Re-
lance drew away SO that at the end Of the
second leg she had gained 80 seconds. The
Columbia, after rounding the first mark.
set a spinnaker. The sail did not draw
at all well and the old champion was rapidly
left astern. She was beaten by the Reliance
by I minutes and AZ seconds.
The third leg of the course was southwest
to south, four and half miles, and the wind
made it close reach. The Reliance on
this leg beat the Constitution by l minute
and As seconds. and the Columbia by min
utes and 81 seconds. At the end OF the
first round the Reliance had lead OF 2
minutes and 10 seconds over the Constitu-
ton, and Is minutes and seconds over
the Columbia.
At the home mark tow bothered the
Constitution. A barge got foul OF the
mark lust as the Constitution was going to
turn and the yacht had to keep of and round
the whole tow. This. of course, lost her
several seconds.
They reached to the first mark in fresh
ening breeze, and the Columbia gained
] minute Al seconds on the Consti ution
and 1 minute SO seconds on the Reliance
The Constitution gained six seconds on the
Reliance, which was one second less than
she had gained on the first round On the
second leg, broad reach with balloons.
the Consti, ton gained ] minute % sec-
ondS on the Reliance. and 3 minutes IL sec
onds on thu Columbia.
They carried with them across the Sound
the freshening breeze. which hauled as
thew got near the outer mark to the south
ward and made it a beat home. The Reli-
ance on this leg beat tho Columbia by 50
l,,,~ yvoin ,,to
IN seconds. Constitution was bothered
somewhat by tug and was forced 10 tack
On the whole second round the Reliance
beat the Constitution by seconds, and she
beat tho Columbia by i3 seconds.
The race yesterday seemed 10 show that
when reaching in steady breeze the Con-
stitution is jus, as good az the Reliance,
but when running before the wind with a
spinnakcr the new boat is a little faster.
On the wind the new boat had shade the
better of it Yesterday, but she. being in the
front, had all the luck that was coming.
twice, one puff lasting for two minutes
and q half, and during that time she was not
heading as high as the Reliance by at least
a point.
was little fluky. and until the two boats
have fair test in ten or fifteen nile
thrcsh to wndward it will be- impossible
TO say which il the better.
The race Yesterday, however. showed
that the Reliance ia not nearly so stif as
the Columbia or the Constitution. She
had her rail down to the water when there
was quite little freeboard on the lce side
of the two older boats. She made mucl,
more fuss, TOO, in going through the water
than the Constitution, especially when
reaching on the south side OF the Sound
on the first leg of the triangle.
The water dragged up under her counter
and left behind her a long. foamy wake.
She was particularly hard to steer. too.
and. in spite of the fact that there were
four men standing at the two wheels she
was constantly shooting up into the wind.
The sails on all three yachts sat very
we'll indeed. The draught in tho mainsaiie
Of the Constitution and Reliance was we'll
up in the throat and there was no baggness
or unnecessary funess noted. 1hey car
riod their biggest club topsails. which also
fitr cd very well. Constitution used
new balloon jib topsail.
The one she used in the last race was
little full on the hoist. The one used yester-
day fits perfectly, and it did much bette!
work while reaching across the Sound
than that Of the Reliance
The Constitution beat the Columbia by
larger margin than she did N any race
sailed two years ago, but the Columbia -
not being handled this year a. she was IN
1901. At the starting line she crossed
under the lee quarter Of the Reliance. She
was not forced into that position and could
just as well have been astem OF the nav