Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-17
WON SILVER CUP.
Helen Took 1t Handsomely in
Cobbossee Regatta.
Annual Event Was Sailed on Lake,
Saturday Afternoon.
Wind Was Light North, but Race Was
Pronounced a Success.

1t was a picture to gladden. the heart
of Sailorman, or one fond of the water,
which was presented to the party as
sembled on the veranda Of the Robin
son cottage, Hammond's Grove, on
Saturday, when the yachts of the Cob
bosSeecontee fleet started for their
annual race. There before them on the
waters of the lake, which Were smoother
than painted sea, was a fleet of eight
yachts, every inch of their canvas
spread, so that not breath of the light
north wind should be lost, and all of
them so punched that it scarcely seem
ed that there was room for their sklpers
to maneuYer. 1t was one of these
sights which must be seen to be appre
ciated and these who witnessed it, from
the splendid vantage point of the Rob-
inson veranda certainly enjoyed every
bit of it, as was shown by their excla-
nations of pleasure and admiration.
IN certain respects the day wasn't
propitious for the regatta. There was
a good breeze lacking. The sun shone
bright, and the day was as warm and
comfortable as one could wish. but the
wind, which blew from the north, was
not sufficient to make a ripple, scarcely,
anon the surface of the lake This had
a tendency to slow the time OF the race
somewhat, and was unfavorable to
some Of the larger boats, noticeably the
Gretchen, which performs best in a
good stiff breeze.
The regatta was scheduled to start
at $50 o'clock, and at 2.35 Col. f. G.
Harrington fired the preparatory, or
5-m;nutes gun, but it was decided to
delay the starting longer, in the hopes
that a better breeze would come along.
While they waited the shippers of the
yachts jockied about in the cove and
whistled for breeze.
Up on the veranda, mentioned before,
sat the judges Howard Owen, c. B.
Burleigh and Col. f. G. Harrington,
waiting until it seemed advisable to
send the boats away.
To those who have been attending
these regattas in previous years it
seemed good to see the veteran journal
list, H. O., acting as a judge, for he has
been doing it so many years that the
event would have seemed wrong had he
not been there And here let it be said
tllctl MI. owen IeIpcu, III lO SHidll way,
to make the afternoon an enjoyable
one. He told stories, made bright jolly
remarks about the boats and every
thing connected with the event. 1t
was a safe guess, if you heard a burst
of laughter or applause, that II. 0.
was responsible for it.
At last, after having apparently died
away completely, the wind took a brace
ard freshened up, SO that it was deem
ed wise to send the boats away. Again
did Col harrington put a shell into his
fcwling piece and once more did the
ladies calculate:
ooh, dear"
AS the report which told the yachts
crews to get ready, sounded out over
the water.
1t was a long time, was the next five
minutes. but it ended at last and once
more did the colonePs gun sound.
And with the sound away went the
boats for the starting line. Nebular,
was the first to cross, going over at 16
minutes, and % seconds past and be-
ing followed 80 seconds later by the
Grace, Gretchen coming along 20seconds
later. The other boats We're close on
their heels, the last one being only
about minutes behind the first They
were well punched together and then ii
was that they formed the picture,
which called forth SO much admiration.
They didn't stay in that position long,
for Helen began to work ahead, taking
every advantage of the wind and was
soon in the lead by a strong margin,
rounding the first buoy well in ad-
vance of the rest of the fleet and being
nearly over to the second buoy before
the nearest boat to her reached the
first.
From that time out, Capt. Smith kept
working his boat for all there was iE
her, and to make the most of the breeze
which prevailed with the result that
his lead constantly grew greater and
that he made the complete run of twice
around the course before some of the
second class boats got around once.
When the Helen came over the line
the winner she was enthusiastically
greeted with a ringing of bells, footing
of horns and pounding of tin pans, while
from the Island Park shore came
cheers and blowing of horns. But all
the boats were used alike, being given a
liberal amount of applause.
OF the work of the boats nothing but
praise can be said, when the quality of
the breeze which they had is consid-
cred
The time Of the boats in the first
class follows:
ACTUAL TINE.
Boat. Start. Finish. Ell Time
Helen ...........35l.12 424t2 10607
Un-ka-kee .......4.03.52 44440 1868
Neptune .........4O5.34 44548 1.2535
Gretchen .....406.OS 45222 13452