Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-27
Reliance Wins Second Victory
Over Old Racers.
Columbia and Constitution Could MOI
Stand Her Speed.
Constitution, However, Made a Most
Extraordinary Showing.

winning her second victory over the
Columbia and over the Constitution
Two minutes and 81 seconds later
when the Constitution SWEPT across the
line. the crew of the neW boat gave
her cheer that she deserved. From
the start to the finish she had fought
every mile of the way over the Bonnie
course and on two of it's legs had
actually outsailed the new boat, a per-
Torrance which restores her prestige,
imperilled in her disappointing show
ing in the drifting match, last Satur-
day, and makes her factor to be reck-
oned with in the selection of cup
defender.
The Columbia was never for a mo-
ment in the race. while the Reliance
and Constitution We're having it out
between themselves all the way around
the course, the erstwhile cup defender
was dragging along miles astern of
them and when the Reliance sailed
across the finish line, she was more
than two miles distant dead to leeward
The Reliance beat her by Is minutes
and 81 seconds, actual sailing time
There is no way to account for it other
than that she did not have the speed.
The wind held true from the south by
east at 8 to II knots during the race
and favored none of the racers. The
conditions for a fair test of the three
boats were ideal and devoid of the
drifting features which marred the two
earlier races.
The course was twice around a Is
mile triangle from the starting line at
Matnicock Point, six miles eastward
to Lloyds Point. AZ miles Southwestern
ly to the starting line.
12-knot breeze was swapping the
bunting of the yachts when the three
sleek racers gathered at the line and
jockeyed about just before the start
ing sign. The start at 1916 p M. was
all but fautless. The Reliance and
Columbia went across the line side by
side with the Constitution trailing a
half minute, but to Windward, Barr
having again got the weather gauge
on the Columbia. Perhaps the lead
ing boats were few seconds ahead of
the actual time for the start, but the
committee ignored it. The first leg was
reached with the wind about beam
and coming out of the Long Island bays
in strong puffs.
Five minutes after the start the Con-
stitutiOn was not more than Il length
astern and to windWard of the Reliance
and the splendid battle between them
was on The Columbia began slowly
to drop astern and to WindWard, but
the Constitution held on like bull
dog. All the boats were going better
than "A 12-knOt clip. More than either
the Constitution or Columbia, the Re-
Iiance's tall reaches of canvas heeled
her over to the streaky black puffs that
came down off the Long Island shore.
nf 10 heats tender
Reliance was the one.
The Reliance had almost the whole
of her long overhangs down into the
boiling white lather along her lee rail.
and when hard puff struck her she
luffed to it as though carrying too
hard a weather helm, while the other
boats held evenly to their courses.
When Capt Barr had set baby jib
topsajl in place of the larger one she
acted better. Steadily till the first turn
the Reliance heightened her lead. The
boats turned the first mark as follows:
Constitution ................. l2.l3'5'
Columbia .................... l2.40.oo
Once around the mark, Constitution
closed up on Reliance and tried to work
by to windward of her To prevent
being Dldtlkcteu capt. bdIl iulitu tif'
Reliance and the two boats were into Il
luffing match that carried them Il mile
out of their course till Capt. Rhoades,
seeing that he could not pass, gave
it up and both boats set spinnakers
and squared away for the second turn.
The Reliance then drew away from her
rival.
The Columbia had set her spinnaker
hn ctt iOh
next turn while the others were luffnG,
but the advantage awaited her moth
ing. She was a good two miles astern
when the new boat finished the leg
The turn was in this order:
RPl1dDce i'''''
Constitution NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1.l4'o
Columbia ........ LEO. :
The Reliance leading by hundreds of
yards and steadily gaining, the two
leaders laid Il course close hauled that
fetched them almost to the third turn
where the starting line had been. capt.
Barr was handling the new boat with
consummatc skill. pinching her into
every favoring puff and steadily length
q ening his lead over the Belmont boat.
The Reliance fetched 100 yards to lee
ward of the mark, went by ana
squeezed between it and long tow OF
barges. Before the Constitution reach
ed the mark the bargeS had fouled 1t
and she was compelled to sail around
the tow. She lost a little by it. The
wind was freshening and the leaders
We're. two miles away on the next leg
before the Columbia reached the third
turn. .f ,xfr.
The time at that mark was as fol-
lows: a..dV
Constitution .............. ....''1'1''' ~
Columbia NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. l.oo.oe
On the fourth leg the racers had the
wind n point freer and with sheets a
bit started the leaders heeled over to
the strong huffs and stretched away
for the emile run. Reliance ncgotiat-
ed that leg in % minutes and % seconds,
but Constitution had gained nearly nall
minute on her.
They took the turn in this order