Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-24
FAR BEHIND.
Reliance Gives Columbia Worst
Defeat She Ever Had.
leads Her IS Min, 40 Sec., Over a
38.MiIe Course.
Nearly 20 Miles of 1t Was Dead Beat
to Windward.


a special cup, today, the Reliance gave
the Columbia the worst beating she
has ever sustained in contest sailed
in a good, wholesale breeze. Sailing
over a course 38 miles in length, near
ly 20 of which were dead to windward,
the new cup yacht finished, IS minutes,
40 seconds ahead of the old champion.
The Constitution went up to Bristol,
last evening, to have a new topmast
put on and did not arrive here, today,
until too late to go out to the start
ing line.
Besides the special event for the 90
footers, there We're races for the sin
gle stickers and schooner yachts of the
New York Yacht Club fleet that have
not been hauled for cleaning since the
annual cruise began. The trophies
We're presented by Capt. John Jacob
Aston and consisted of a cup valued at
$1,000 for the schooners and one worth
$500 for sloops, cutters and yawls.
On arriving at Brenton's Reef light
ship the regatta committee found a
tumbling sea on breeze of from II to
IA knots strength blowing from little
west of south. Course No. was Sc
lected, which gave the yachts a beat
of 1872 miles southwest one-half west
to mark near Block Island; a run of
IS miles northeast by east three
fourths east, to another mark off West
Island and what would have been a
reach of 61a miles to the finish line had
the wind held true.
The single stick vessel competing for
the Astor cup were sent away first. the
yawl Vigilant and the cutter Nicola
crossing first. Following them were
the Weetamoe, Senta, Effort, Aspirant
and Isolde. Then the schooners Ell
mira, Ingomar and Ariel We're started.
AS all yachts sailed the same course
the committee waited until 11.45 before
giving the signal for the 9O~footers to
start.
Mr.. Morgan, who steered the Column
bia, and Capt. Barr of the Reliance had
a lively fight for the start and it re-
suited in the amateur skipper gaining
a decided advantage. When the warn
ing gun was fired Capt. Barr drove out
to windward of the line with the Co
lumbia under his lee. Half mile from
the line Capt. Barr sent his vessel up
into the wind on pretence OF coming
about, but Mr.. Morgan was not fooled
and finally seeing tht he would be late
getting back to the line, Capt. Barr
came about and ran back to the COM
mittee boat with the Columbia on his
lee quarter.
Reaching the line the Reliance wore
around before the boat had completely
crossed to the leeward side of the line
and the committee recalled her by q
blast of the whistle. Mr.. Morgan made
sure that he was on the leeWard slde
of the line before he wore ship and
stood back on the starboard tack. he
went away at 1149.19, while the Re-
lance had to ease off and run around
under the stern of the committee boat
| in order to make a real start. The new
craft was handled so prettily that she
was but 80 seconds behind the Column
bia in starting.
AS soon as the Reliance was over
the line. Mr. Morgan berthed his ship
on her weather bow. Capt. Barr tackeo
repeatedly during the next few minutes
in an effort to get the wind clear. Al
| 10 o'clock, the Columbia crossed the
bow of the Reliance and was again
perched on the new boats weather
bow.
| l3arr gave his sails good full, while
the old Gun defender was in the wind
and gained such a Roadway that his
charge was able to drive through Co
lunhia's lee and get a free wind. The
pair made few more short bitches I'M
til at 1906 Reliance crossed Columbia
bow and took up the coveted weather
berth. From this time on it was only
a question of how much the new boat
| would beat the old one out to the
weather mark.
Reliance behaved handsomely in the
rough water and outfooted and out
pointed her rival all the time. AS usual
they went in under the Narragansett
shore when beating out. Off Point
| Judith heavier seas were encountered,
but the two racers made easy way
through them. Reliance drew away
steadily and turned the windward mark
at 1:3124 Columbia wore around at
| l:35.55. minutes and q seconds behind
the leader. Adding the 80 seconds act
ual start the old boat had over her
rival, Reliance had heaten her an even
| 5 minutes in IS 1-2 mile thresh to
| Windward.
Spinnakers were set for the run to the
| second turn and Reliance increased her
/ speed in every mile. A slight fog was
encountered near the second turn, but
| Capt. Barr had steered true course
and hit the mark so exactly that he was
able to gybe around ahead of Vigilant
! which had worked off to the southwark
| Of the turn. Columbia also failed to
/ hit the mark plump and was little to
the north of her course when Reliance
| passed her on the way to the finish line.
1t was a close lay to the line from the
second turn but the wind hauled to the
westward still more and Reliance was
! obliged to make a short tack off shore
| before she could fetch to the line.
| Ingomar led the schooner class
around the course but lost the prize TO
i Elnlina on time allowance. Vigilant
was the first of the single stick vessels
to finish and while she has not been
officially measured. her length compeis
her to make big allowances to the other
/ yachts in the class. 1t is figured out
Continued on page 80