New-York tribune., 1903-06-30
BEAT VIGILANTS TINE.
RELIANCE WINS RACE.
Three Yachts Al Fast-IHe COtu7;-
bia Comes in Second.
[nY rELEGRAPH TO THE rRIRrNE. |

and Columbia sailed thirty-mie race at sea to-
day, breaking all previous records for speed made
by nnety-footers similar course. 1t was the
hardest and best the yachts have sailed since
they have met. being a thrash to windward of If
teen miles and spinnaker run back to the finish
The Reliance by 4 minutes seconds from
the Columbia and she covered the course, which.
with third more added for the tacks made IN the
windward work made 1t thirty-fve miles, in the
remarkably fast time of hours minutes 50 sec
onds. This is IA minutes 46 seconds faster than
the time made by the Vigant in her famous race
against the Valkyrie II off Sandy Hook on Octo-
ber 10, 1885, which has stood the record ever
since for windward and leeward race at sea The
figures show that the Constitution and the Column
bia also broke the Vigilant's record.
IT a stubbornly fought from start to
finish In a strong breeze and just the kind Of
contest that every one has been waiting for. NO
three yachts battIed harder for the honor Of
rounding the outer mark first The feature of the
days sport the fast and steady sailing of the
Columbia in the windward work, and also in the
run She the second boat at the outer mark,
having beaten the Constitution minute 81 seconds.
and being beaten herself by the Reliance only 1
minute "a seconds. On the ffteen-mile home run
the Constitution gained only As seconds on the
Columbia, the latter yacht beating the Constitution
by 40 seconds over the full course.
STIFF EASTWARD BREEZE AT START.
The yachts left the harbor soon after 10 o'clock,
and they found stiff breeze from the eastward
when they passed by Castle Hill. There
thing of sea too but not enough to make
them do any laboring to speak of. The wind had
strength of not more than eight knots when the
yacht Riviera with the regatta committee
board arrived off Brenton's Reef Lightship at
II o'clock. But il rapidly increased to ten and
later to fifteen knots. 1t evident that
jib topsas would not be needed, and were
With the code flag "J'' flying, meaning that
the start would be postponed until later in the
day. the Riviera steamed out to the southwest
until she had reached point about two miles east
southeast from Point Judith. There she anchored
with the mark float 200 yards inshore of her, es-
tablishing the starting line and hosting at the
time the code letters "A O." showing that
she course would be fifteen miles to windward
and From Brentons Reef this course
would have been impossible. hence the change Of
base further off shore.
Exactly at II clock the preparatory signal was
given and ten minutes later the warning gun,
which left the yachts five minutes in which to
start. At the warning gun all Three yachts were
standing off shore the port tack. to leeward Of
the line with the Reliance In the lead and all of
them gradually working up to position
south and east of the committees yacht
When there was minute left before the start
ing signal Captain Rhodes let the Constitution
come about Captain Barr swung the Reliance to
the starboard tack once, placing the Constitu
ton under her lee bow. Both then went for the
line while the Columbia, coming astern. crossed
the wakes of both and shot in TO wndward of them.
Mr.. Morgan luffed the old boat close around the
of the committee boat, thus gaining the
weather berth.
NEAT MANGUVRE BY MR. MORGAN
The Constitution rdn along parallel to the line
until gunfire then luftng until she was close
hauled the starboard tack. she crossed the line
first at 1215:2J The Reliance. close her weather
beam, crossed four seconds later and the Columbia
well to windward of them both. went across two
seconds after the Reliance. 1t was neat man0eu-
the part of Mr.. Morgan and he followed it
up in minute and thirty seconds after crossing
h1-+r
followed her. but the Constitution kept Only
for thirty seconds did Mr.. Morgan keep the Co
lumbia on that tack Putting her about quickly
the starbOard tack, and having the right of way
when she met the Reliance. there was an anxious
moment to see who would give way The Reliance
succeeded In crossing her rival by only few feet
Barr then let the Reliance about right in the
Columbia's water. backwinding that yacht but only
for moment, for around the old boat to the
other tack again. and getting her wind clear. she
held the tack for two minutes When she came
around again she was we'll out on the weather quar-
ter of the Reliance the latter having the Constiu
ton on her lee bow All three yachts
the starboard tack, heeling under the infu-
of the freshening breeze until their lee rails
were under water at times, and their decks wet fore
and aft with flying spray, while the bronze bilges
often out until the cardboard strake could be
1t picture to inspire yachtsmen and
laymen alike. and the yachts were watched with
the keenest interest by the scores board the
feet of following steam yachts. They included
Charles Fletchers Carmina, Nat Herreshoff's
Roamer the Parthenia the Duchess, Lloyd Pho-
nix's Intrepid and the schooner Columbia.
COLUMBIA HOLDS WINDwARD PLACE.
Fifteen minutes after the start the Columbia
still held the windward position. although the Re
lance had forereached on her, and well out
her lee bow the Constitution being off the lee
quarter of the Columbia. At 1926 Barr put the
Reliance about. Rhodes following suit. The Co
lumba continued on the starboard tack. The Re-
har hn- hI
the Constitution had to go across the old boats
wake Mr. Morgan tackled his boat right on the
weather beam of the Constitution.
Five minutes later the Belmont boat broke tacks
with the others and took an inshore board for eight
minutes The others made short bitches inshore
and at D. m. all were the port tack again. with
this result The Reliance in the weather berth,
with Columbia about eighth of mile on her
lee quarter. the Constitution being nearly half
mile In the wake of the Reliance
At l: "a the Columbia tackled inshore heading Tor
: h. mouth of the Seaconnet River. In two minutes
the other two following her lead. For twenty
minutes they held this tack getting smoother water
thereby then they came about. and as they passed
close TO West Island lighthouse they timed
follows:
Reliance ! - 30
t,n~iitmfon % ....................1:51:3 80
This showed that in this miles of windward
work the Reliance had gained 1 minute Sc seconds
on the Columbia and 8 minutes 80 seconds the
Constitution. Out of bad position at the start
and hard fight in the short taCks that followed
the Reliance had proven herself better boat in
a strong breeze and than her opponents
BARR HUGS WEST ISLAND.
Rarr had figured that by huggIng West Island
close he would be able to fetch the outer mark,
then in plain sight, this port tack. He was
right for in just twentyone minutes Inc big white
sloop was keeping away around the mark. and in
another minute her great main boom swung across
the deck as she gybed and with sheets eased broad