The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-20
CONSTITUTION
ALMOST WON
New Boats Margin Was Very
Small In Yesterdays Race.
COLUMBIA 0UTCLASSED iGAIN
Owing to the Varying Breezes the Leaders
Alternated for First Place, Making
Race Exciting.
COLUMBIA 0UTCLASSED iGAIN

New York June 20.r-Though the Con-
stitution did not defeat the Reliance on
time allowance In a 25-mile race over the
course of the Indian Harbor Yacht CLUB
in Long Island Sound yesterday she gave
the admirers OF the new boat bad scare.
In more than four hours OF sailing the
Reliance outsailed her by only ! minute
and 50 seconds elapsed time. Experts es-
innate that the new boat will have TO
allow the Constitution two or three min
utes in a 3O-mile race. which. If true
might give yesterday 5 race 10 the older
boat, as well as one of the earlier races
when the Reliance beat the Constitution
by two minutes and a fraction.
The Columbia was again outclassed
from the start. Her gain of about II
minutes on the second leg of the race
mffing match.
REMARKABLE SAILING.
The Constitutions fast sailing yester-
day was all the more remarkable ana
makes her all the more formidable from
the fact that the race was sailed in light
winds and smooth water, under whlch
conditions the Reliance has before beat
en- the old defender
The contest OF the captains began at
the starting line. when Capt. Barr of the
Reliance robbed Capt. Rhodes OF the Con-
stituton Of an advantage cleverly gained
and forced the Constitution to give way
TO him 10 avoid collision. Rhodes had
the Constitution at the windward end or
the line and would have forced Reliance
to take leeward position but for Barr
move I'm poking the Reliance between the
Constitution and the mark. Constitu-
ton few a protest flag probably for that
reason. II is a question whether Barr
had established the overlap required to
give him the right of way.
TRIANGULAR COURSE.
The course was an elongated triangle,
10 miles easterly and diagonally across
the sound, five miles north straight
across the Connecticut shore. and 10 miles
along that shore 10 the finish line.
The start was In this order: Reliance.
l246ul, Constitution, l246;l0; Columbia.
The first leg was a iO-mile beat easterly
and across the sound, with the wind not
more than four knots
once across the line the Constitution
was fairly blanketed by the Reliance and
forced TO keep Off while the Reliance
quickly worked a few hundred yards to
windward and was never In company
with them afterward
TRIED TO CROSS BOW
After an hour, during which they had
worked off into the middle of the sound,
the Reliance having the right of way,
failed. An hour after the start she did
accomplish II. but a few minutes later
the Wind backed TO northeast and gave
the Constitution the lead. She had held
1t not more than half an hour, and both
boats were approaching the first turn.
when the Reliance caught a smart puff
OF wind from the south and sailed half
circle round the Constitution before the
latter began TO feel the new breeze
rhnsF ft,rf al hn Hrgt L. ,Ir
by side. and with the wind hauling 10 the
southwest started to reach five mites
north and across the sound 10 the next
turn. A close luffing match for the wind
ward position followed, in when the Con
stitution was handicapped by carrying
a balloon jibtopsail.
WIND SHIFTS.
Captain Barr had no sooner Lifted the
Reliance from under the Constitution !
lee than the wind shifted, and he had 10
for half an hour and II carried them far
off their course; but the Reliance finally
shook eff her rival and they filed away
for the turn with the new boat leading by
a few hundred yards and more than a
minute and a half at the turn
There had been just enough rain 70
thwart Mr.. Iselin's effort to keep he Re
liances sails dry
steady six knot south wind sent
them reellng off the ten miles Of the last
leg southwesterly to the finish line at a
stiff clip. Ii was a procession, interest
ing chiefly for the splendid marine pic
ture when the sun broke through the
clouds and hung rainbow across the
sound. under the arc OF which the yachts
with their tall spires OF canvas. shell
pink under the rays OF the setting sun.
reached away for the finish line.
THE SUMMARY.
Start. ist turn Cd turn
Reliance .......... 12.4607 2421s s.50.4l