The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-29
CONSTITUTION IS CRIPPLED.
LOSES HER TOPNiST AFTER SAN
ING VINE .WILES or RACE.
Abreast or the Reliance When the Arr'dem
Happens Reliance Easily Defeats the
Columbia over rs Mile course
A Reach All the Way Around In
Good Breeze Capt. Rhodes Beats Capt
Barr In the ManPuvrinE for the start

Barr In the MantPuNrinE tOr 'he START
The Reliance finished first in Yesterday s
race OF the 9O-footers sailed on the Sound,
defeating the Columbia by minutes, ~
seconds actual time over % mile
course The average gain mile OF
the new Yacht, was POPS seconds. Her
average speed around the course was l.57
knobs an hour II was n reach all the way
around, and the breeze varied from to
IA knots in strength and backed and hauled
be, ween south southwest and south by east.
An unfortunate accident to the Con-
stitution when about two miles from the
first turning mark spoiled what probably
would have been one Of the closest and
hardest fought races in which yachts Of
the aO-foot class ever met A strong puff
of wind drawing out of Huntington Bay
caught the Constitution and laid her well
over. She was then carrying big balloon
lib topsal and was about on even terms
with the Reliance. being on that yachts
weather.
For a second or two she stood the extra
strain beautifully, but suddenly the star
board topmast spreader snapped and, the
tension OH the topmast stay being released.
the weight OF the wind in the club top
SAL anu lHt JiO tcp0di NttuHt' WV
topmast to buckle and then snap about
two-thrds of the way down from the truck,
The club topsail was badly torn and it was
some time before the wreckage could be
cleared away.
As far as she had gone. which was about
nine miles, the Constitution had sale
beautiful race. Capt Rhodes had berthed
her well at the start. going across the line
on the weather quarter of the Reliance,
the difference between the two yachts as
they crossed being seventeen. seconds.
Reliance carried reaching jibtopsail.
The wind was over the starboard quarter
and Capt. Rhodes had. chosen balloon
lib topsail for the broad reach to the first
mark and it seemed that he shown the
better judgment.
Reliance and Constitution held we'll in
toward the shore, both being high of their
course. They also had the benefit of the
last of the ebb tide, and when the tide
changed and they got the first of the food,
they took it on the lee bow so that they
were being set up all the time. Reliance
at one time seemed to have pulled away
from the older boat, but then when they
bore of for the mark the Constitution went
up again and the two boats were practi-
cally on even terms when the accident hap
pened The Reliance, however. being to
leeward, was a little nearer the mark
Mr., Belmont who was on the Constitu-
ton, said shortly after the accident hap
pened that he had d spare spar for the
Yacht, but that i, was at Bristol and he did
not think they would be able to get the boat
ready in time for the race Tomorrow
We were on even terms with the Reliance
when the topmast went" he said. being
abreast of that yacht, but the Reliance was
just little nearer the turning mark"
The Columbia was never in the race from
the start. She crossed the line at the lee
ward and ahead of the other two. She
was in a position to have reached across
the line and taken the weather position
from the Reliance and made the fight a
hot one on the first leg at least Then
she sailed course well out in the Sound,
losing the benefit that the other boats
gained with the tide in shore in their favor
Tor some time. She carried a reaching lib
topsaii to the first mark. and on that leg
OF the course she was beaten by the Reliance
by minutes SIS seconds. They gybed at
that mark and had the wind abeam for
the three-mile reach across the Sound
Columbia hung on to her re aching jib.
but the Reliance changed hers for a Mo-.
On this leg the gain for the Reliance was
T25 seconds.
s.The third leg was close fetch of eleven
miles. The breeze freshened as the yachts
neared the home mark. and the Reliance,
being the leading boat. was getting this
strengthening breeze first all the time.