The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-22

On the first leg OF the race. which was
a reach OF II miles. Reliance had de-
cided advantage In the wind. Then at
the finish OF the breeze. which had fresh
ened into a good sailing wind. fattened
out at almost the same time that Re-
lance crossed the line.
This made Columbia almost drift in
and added considerable TO the time OF
her beating. Nevertheless, Reliance
beat her trial horse in every leg, even
when conditions were equal. 1T Is this
which makes her admirers believe that
she is the fastest yact anoat
II Is true that her canvas Is sure 10
be improved upon. while that OF Colum-
bia sets splendidly. new Ratsey club
topsail used by the older boat for the
first time was delight 10 all who saw
IT.
The race was scheduled TO start at
IL o'clock. but at that time the signal
displayed from the regatta committee
boat. the Pioneer, read: Face postponed
until later in the day" The two big fly
ers drifted about lazily. while fleet,
including every conceivable variety OF
pleasure craft, assembled.
II was nearly an hour later when the
yachts got away and not until late in the
afternoon did the race become at all In
teresting. then the spectators were re-
waried.
The course was triangular. eleven
miles in the first leg three on the second
and eleven on the third. The course OF
the first leg was east by north and the
wind nearly ~ue south The course re-
suited In reaches on the long legs and
a run on the shorter one. so windward
work was not feature OF the trial
RELIANCE FIRST ACROSS LINE.
Reliance crossed the line fve lengths
ahead OF the Columbia. She broke out
balloon staysail and balloon jib-topsail as
soon as she had crossed the line. Column
bia set larger balloon jib and housed
her staysail as she crossed. They stood
away on the starboard tack with started
sheets Columbia hoisted a balloon stay.
sail after they had drifted for about five
minutes. but as Reliance was gaining
with her additional head canvas the old
yachts staysail was not broken out. and
little later Reliance took I'm hers.
There was no use for big headsa!ls for
the jibs fell fat in the light air and the
yachts only drifted, with scarcely wind
enough TO hold their booms over the rail-
Columbia took I'm her balloon jib topsatl.
set her staysail and run up reaching Jlb
topsail, which was broken out at one.
but IL hung about as fiat as the larger
sail Reliance followed suit immediatelv,
but her men forward were slow, and sne
was fully Ave minutes without any head
canvas before a No l Jlb topsail was
broken out. In the meantime the other
yacht was at a standstill.
COLUMBIA IN DEAD CALM
However. not until o'clock was there
wind enough TO promise anything OF n
trial BY that time the Reliance had
drifted a mile and n half ahead. and when
abreast Of Centre Island buoy she caught
fair breeze. which pushed her ahead,
while the Columbia lay in a streak Il
almost dead calm.
The Reliances balloon jibtopsail was
changed TO No. l jbtopsai and her jib
was set as she approached the first mark.
The former drew we'll and set finely. and
che continued 10 gain rapidly on the for
mer cup defender. The last mile OF tho
first leg was made at about n seven-knot
clip the fastest for the Reliance so far.
and for the first time the crew deserted
the ieeward rail. The jib tapped badly
sioft and backwinded considerably
Capt. Barr went 20 the end OF the horn
and examined the sail critically. hut made
no change N II his opinion that the
lead Of the jib sheet is n little too sharp,
and u will be changed today.