The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-21
WIND VERY LIGHT
Chances for Race Between Reliance
and Columbia Looked Slim
This Morning.
Absence of Constitution Detracted
From the Interest in the First
Contest.

Glencove, N. T., May 21.-Early prep-
aratiens were made to-day onssb board the
two American 90-foot sloops, the Colum
bia, twice defender Of the Americas cup,
and the Reliance the latest aspirant. for
the test Of their relative fitness to meet
Sir Thomas Lipton's third venture, the
Shamrock III. They were to sail over a
measured course In the sound.
Although the absence Of the Constitu-
ton, which is undergoing repairs. sonne-
what marred the interest in to-day's race,
still there were plenty Of yachting en-
thusiasts who came down from New York
to see the other boats. The early arri-
walls, however, did not find racing condi
lions particularly favorable. At 8 o'clock
four hours before the time fixed for start
ing the race, the waters of the sound
showed not even a. ripple and nowhere was
there the slightest trace Of breeze.
AS there has been but little wind in this
vicinity for four or five days many Of the
old fishermen alongshore shook their heads
obviously and predicted that the yachts
would not be able to reach even the start
under canvas, to say nothing about finish
ing the race, but the mainsails on both
yachts we're up by $3.50 o'clock, the Co
lumbia hosting hers while at anchor in
the cove, while the Reliance sent hers up
before she left New Rochelle on the other
side OF the sonud. The air was delightful
ly clear, and a trifie cooler than yesterday.
The regatta committee Of the New York
Yacht club, under whose auspices the
yachts will meet in a majority OF races
this year, has laid out three triangular
courses for the yachts of Glencove with
the start in all of them from the buoy
off Matinicock Point. The first course was
q small almost equilateral triangle OF
about five miles to a side to be sailed
! twice around or thirty miles in all. The
other two courses were obtuse triangles,
one of them having a long leg of eleven
| miles down the sound almost to the
Eatons Neck light, thence over to the
Connecticut shore and back to the fin
ish. while the other had the same long
leg down the sound, but with another long
! leg up the sound to a buoy off Rye and
| then back to the finish.
| The obtuse triangles were about twenty
six miles around. It was expected that
one Of these courses would fit the pre-.
vailing direction Of the wind and give the
yachts a good test on all points Of sail
| ing, reaching. running and beating. Pas
| experience had shown that the smallel
triangle meant plenty Of work for tn
crews, especially with a lively breeze a!
l the big sloops covered the three legs II
I quick time. This small triangle, there
fore, was looked upon as a test Of sail
! handling and quick work at the helm
rather than for any chance to size up tn
1 relative merits of the boats. The clul
steamer Sirius, we'll laden with members
came down from New York and made
brief stop for the Long Island enthusi
asts at the little pier Of the Cove. B.
9 o'clock there was a little air stirr1n
from the westward and there seemed t
} be some indications of a race.
At 1890 o'clock both boats had arrive
: at the starting point. BY this time tn
. wind had been breezed UP to about thre
knots an hour from the southwest an
there were some indications OF its In
creasing later in the day. About noon tn
) committee boat signalled that the stat
Z would be postponed until later. The win
was so streaky that the committee wishe
to wait for a steadier breeze. AS til
two yachts stood together. the Reliance
with her immense rig, lowered far abov
the Columbia.
At 12:45 p. m. the boats were sti
waiting for the wind of which Their
seemed little prospect. During the pre-
liminary naneuvers the Columbia. SCENE
to be holding the Reliance well.
< The actual starting times were:
: Reliance 1920.
: Columbia $500.
The Reliance apparently gained on tn
. Columbia. The wind was very ligh
), The Reliance had considerably II
creased her lead when the yachts wei
v passing Peacock Point, about two mile
:: from the starting line. After passing tt
:, point the wind seemed to fall away er
!: tirely and the yachts were almost n1t
: tionless. ..