Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-21
FIRST TRIAL RACE
Big Preparations Made for To-
 Days Sail.
THE COLUMBIA AND RELIANCE

Sailed Over Measured Course-1t
 Was ths First Real Trial of the Ali
 ance Representative Body of
 Yachtsmen Out to See the Race
 Tbe Faster Boat Will Be Fitted
 Against the Shamrock.
 / Glen Cove, N. r., May 21.-Early preparations were made to-day on board the two American 90-foot sloops, Columbia, twice the defender of the Americas cup, and Reliance, the lat est aspirant, for the test of their rela- tive fitness to meet Sir Thomas Lip tons third venture, Shamrock III. They were to sail over a measured course ill the Sound. Up in Brooklyn, in the hands of a marine surgeon, lay another yacht built to be cup defend CT, which when her slight damages are repaired by Saturday will un- doubtedly prove a keen rival of the other two. .. e.ss.
 Although the absence of the Consti- tuition somewhat marred the interest in to-day's race, still there were plen- ty of yachting enthusiasts who came down from New York to-day to see the other boats. The early arrivals, how ever, did not find racing conditions par ticu1arly favorable. At 8 o'clock, four hours before the time fixed for start ing the race, the placid waters of the Sound showed not even ripple. No where was there the slightest trace of n breeze. However, the 'mainsails on both yachts were up by 8:3O o'clock, the Columbia hoisting hers while at anchor in the cove, while. the Reliance sent hers up before she left New Ro- chelle on the other side of the Sound. The air was delightfully."- clear and the Connecticut shore could be seen for many mi IS. The regatta committee of the New York Yacht club, under whose auspices the yachts will meet in a majority of races this year, had laid out three triangular courses for the yachts off Glen Cove, with the start In all of them from the buoy off Matin- icock Point. The first course was a small almost equilateral triangle of about five miles to side with a pro vision for sailing it twice round, or thirty miles in all. The other two courses were 0btuse triangles, one of them having a long leg down the Sound almost to the Eaton's Neck light, Ii miles, then over to the Con- necticut shore and back to the finish, while the other had the same long leg down the Sound, but with another long leg up the Sound to a buoy off Rye and then back to the finish ....t
 The obtuse triangles were about 9 miles round. It was expected that one of these courses would fit the pre- vailing direction of the wind and give the yachts good test in all points of sailing, reaching, running and beating Past experience had shown that the smaller triangle meant plenty of work for the crews, especially with a lively breeze as the big sloops covered the three legs in quick time. This small triangle. therefore. was looked upon as a test of sail handling and quick work at the helm, rather than for any chance to measure the relative merits of the boats.
 1t was hoped, therefore, this morn ing that the committee would be able to select one of the very long triangles with a good beat to windward of nearly a dozen miles.
 The club steamer Sirus, we'll laden with members, came down from New York and made 8 brief stop for the Long Island enthusiasts at the little pier of the cove. By o'clock there was a little air stirring from the west ward and there seemed some indica- tions of race
 The regatta committee, made up this year of ex-Commodore $. Nicholson Kane. Newberry D. Lawton and B. H. Wales. was expected to come down from New York during the forenoon on steam yacht owned by A. Smith of the club. i..
 At 11:30 both boats arrived at the starting point and at Il :45 the prelim- mary gun was fired. They jockeyed around for start and the Columbia moved more briskly than the Reliance Ten minutes later the start was post poned. as the wind was too streaky. At 12:45 they were still waiting for the wind and there appeared little prospects for a race to-day. A score of large steam yachts were at the starring point at 12:30. At o'clock the wind shifted to the southwest and 1t was steadier than before, but was still very, light.
 The yachts started as follows: Reli- ance :57 20, Columbia 1:5S:30. The wind was very mild. The Reliance had increased her lead considerably when passing Peacock Point, about two miles from the start.