The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-30
CUP DEFENDER GOOD HEAVY
WEATHER CRAFT.
EASILY DEFEATS COLUMBIA
Sails Race Under Conditions caIcu-
lated to Bring Out Infested
Points.

Batesman's Point. l.. l., June 90
The new yacht Reliance proved today
her worth as a heavy weather boat
when she defeated the Columbia and
Constitution in a stiff easterly breeze
and lumpy sea over a thirty mile
course, fifteen miless of which was
a beat to windward. The Reliance
sailed the course in A minutes, 9 Sec
onds less time than did the Columbia,
and 4 minutes, 5S seconds less than
did the Constitution. All the races in
which these boats have participated
up to date have been in light air, but
this afternoon there was a smashing
wholesale breeze blowing and much
jump to the water, conditions that are
exactly suited to the Columbia. With
her owner, E. D. Morgan, at the helm,
the old cup defender sailed a grand
race, reaching the windward mark
only one minute Sc seconds astern Of
the Reliance, and one minute 81 Sec
onds ahead of the Constitution. On
the run home, however the Reliance
pulled away steadily from her oppo-
nents, while the Constitution gained
considerably on the Columbia. Cap
tain Barr sailed the new sloop for
all there was in her and gave her
rigging and spars a thorough test
ing. Twice he wore ship when ma
neuvering for the start and on each
occasion a gust of wind heeled the
craft down until the water was nearly
up to the matches.
The course was a beat of Is miles,
and a run to the finish. When the
starting gun was fired at 1915, the
Constitution was first over the line,
the Reliance second, and the Columbia
third. The official starting times We're:
Constitution 12:15:2O. Reliance
12:15:24. Columbia 12:15:26. Is
The Reliance went right ahead and
although the Columbia had the right
of-way, Captain Barr luffed his boat
out across her bows and planted the
Reliance to the windward of the older
boat. 1t appeared as though the Co.
lumbia had been obliged to bear away
a little in order to avoid a collision,
but no protest flag was shown. The
Disqualification hoI hold nm hnr aN11rc0
and at 1920 all three boats were
standing for Brenton's reef lightship
on the starboard tack.
Lee rails were we'll awash, and the
yachts sent showers of spray flying
from under their bows as they drove
in the chop.
The Reliance plainly outfooted and
outpointed the Columbia while the lat
ter was getting away from the Consti-
tuition. The boat acted well in the
choppy sea. The three sloops drove
along at a great speed until 1925.
Then the Reliance, having worked her
out across the bow of the Column
bia, tackled to s%tarboard and with
the Columbia out ahead. but to lee
ward, steered up into the mouth of the
Seaconnet river to take advantage of
smooth water and favorable tide. The
Constitution trailed the other two half
a mile astern. BY this time the wind
ward mark was in sight. All three
went tearing for the mark and round
ed as follows:
Reliance, 2:O3:35; Columbia,
2:10:31; Constitution, 2:12:O2.
The run showed that though the
Constitution is a very fast craft down
the wind, the Reliance is even better
in conditions like today, for the latter
gained steadily on both her rivals,
while the Belmont boat picked up
some seconds on the Columbia.
Elapsed
Start. Finish. Time.
Reliance ..12:15:24 3:25:17 3:O9:53
Columbia .%12:15:26 3:29:28 3:14:O2
Constitu'n ~12:15:2O 3:3O:11 3:14:51