New-York tribune., 1903-05-22

First across the finish line and a winner by
Il minutes 43 seconds. That is the maiden
record of Herreshoff's latest ninety foot sloop
yacht in her first race against the Columbia
The contest was sailed yesterday over a twenty
five mile course on Long Island Sound, one-third
Of the distance being covered in the lightest
kinds of airs that could scarcely be dignifed by
the name of breezes and two-thirds in fresn
and steady breeze that put lee rails under at
times and sent both yachts along in the smooth
water at ten knots and better. The Columbia
was beaten p seconds for every mile sailed
While 1t may be said that in some early por-
tions of the race the Relianee was favored by
the fuky airs prevailing when it came to a.
breeze of an equal strength for both she still
continued to gain, and at no time did the CO.
1umbia able TO cope with her Her gains
were so decided in each case that 1t leaves no
room for doubt to which is the faster boat
at least under the conditions encountered yester-
day
What the yacht will do in a heavy sea and a
light breeze or in fifteen mile thrash TO wind
ward outside Sandy Hook remains to be seen.
but confidence in the Reliance was firmly es-
tablished in the minds of those who watched her
every move yesterday. and according to a con-
servative estimate three thousand persons
of the large feet of yachts accompanying the
two racers.
The Reliance got under way from her moor
ings off New Rochelle at 1910 a. m, standing
across the Sound under the influence OF light
air from the southwest. When she reached the
middle Of the Sound. the wind shifted to the
southeast and became little stronger. She was
dressed in a complete suit of Herreshon sails
All of them fitted admirably with the exception
Of the lib. which was loose in the leach. The
n.ainsail was the largest she has yet worn.
On board the Reliance with c. Oliver Iselin
were Herbert C. Leeds, Newberry Thorne, Wood
bury Kane. William Butler Duncan, Jr. and
DR.. Monahan Captain Charles Barr was at
the helm. Just before the start Captain Nat
Herreshon stepped board. He remained for
the
The sails of the Columbia set perfectly Over
a smaller mainsail than she has been wearing
a big Ratsey clubtopsan of diagonal cloth was
SCI The sail was of the yelowish hue charac-
teristfc OF the Ratsey canvas. The headsails
both set we'll She got under way from her
u.oorings at Glen Cove at 11:15, and was towed
out into the Sound by E. D. Morgan's fast steam
launch Vanish.
A large fleet OF steam yachts each having its
quota of guests of the owner on board. accom-
panied the racers over the course. Among them
were Commodore F. c. Bourne's Delaware, the
flagship of the New-York Yacht Club August
Belmont's Scout Adrian Iselin's Surf, Captain
Nat Herreshoff's Roamer, J. Roger Maxwelrs
CeIt r. A c. Smiths Privateer and the schoon-
er yachts Muriel, Emerald and Monimia. The
steamer Sirius carried the club members.
Frlvtng the flag of the regatta committee. the
steam vacht Privateer, owned by R. A. c. Smith.
anchored off the starting point at noon and
hoisted the code flag ~ signifying that the
start was to be postponed until later in the day.
After a long wait for a breeze the preliminary
signal was hoisted at 1:2J. Five minutes later
the tug UNIQUE. in charge of Captain Neils OIL
sen started to log off the course. which had
heen announced by signal No. 3. This was
from the starting point east by north 4 north
II miles thence west-northwest miles, then
southwest bv west - west II miles TO the fin
ish % miles in all. Fifteen minutes elapsed
before the preparatory signal given. and
fftaen minutes later. or at 1855. the starting
s,,n WAS fred. Both yachts had been manGu-
wiring for a good berth at the line
There was n light air from about southwest by
south when the starting signal was given. -Four
minutes before the signal both yachts were ap-
oroaching the line from the north on the star
hoard tack. with sheets eased a bit. Captain
Rarr had worked the Reliance into the lead by
several lengths. With mainsail club topsail and
itb set and with her balloon jib topsail in stops
Continued page four.