The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-18
VICTORY FOR CONSTITUTION.
FINISHES CLOSE TO RELIANCE
IN THE FIRST RUN.
Time Allowance Leaves the Hon0rs OF the
Day with the Belmont Boat-New
York Yacht cub Cruise Begins In Flulty
wlnds-C OIunbla Leads at First.


crossed the finishing line SO seconds after
tho Reliance, but the new boat has to allow
the Constitution about minutes 10 seconds
time over the thirty-seven-milec course, 80
that the Constitution won the race, with
more than minute to spare.
This is the first defeat the Reliance has
cyncrienced in race in which she has
finished. She lost at Larchmont, but that
through carrying away her topmast. Tho
race to-day was peculiar one. The wind
in the earlier part was light and fiuky. 1t
was a day very much like those when the
oo-rooters sailed their first races on the
Sound and it was expected that the he
lance would ghost away from the other
two. There was air aloft and the big club
Iopsails caught 1t. T.,
To every ones surprise the Columbia
did we'll at the start. For long time
she was the leading boat and it was not
until 2 hours 80 minutes after the start
that the Reliance pulled by the old cham
pion and took the lead. They were then
close hauled and up to that time the Con-
sritution had been long way astern.
When the yachts got to Stratford Shoal
light the wind freshened ard freed couple
OF points so that balloons were carried. Then
The Constitution did the best work. She
drew up on the Reliance and when little
more than mile from the finishing line
the Reliance set her spinnaker, The Con-
sliution sets her at once and she crept up
on the new yacht, and as they crossed the
line only 50 seconds separated the two.
They made grand picture as they sailed
between the steamer Riviera and the flashing
cone on the mark at the other end Of the
line The sun shone brightly and the sea
was smooth. but there was wind enough
10 make their kites draw well.
The Cove to. night is filed with yachts Of
The fleet, few of the big boats having
anchoredsoutside the breakwater. Several
new yachts have joined the fleet. and to-
morrow when the start is made for New
London it will be nearly $50 strong
Commodore Bourne signalled to the fleet
10 get under way at $50 o clock at colors and
at The time set the racing yachts started
ont for the line, which was OF Matinicock
Point There was very little wind and it
took long time to get out, so that the pre-
paratory signal was not made until lO45
o'clock
After the sloops and schooners had been
sent of the 9O-footers got ready for the
race. The preparatory signal for these boats
was made at l1i5 and ten minutes later the
warning signal was sounded. Balloon jib
topsails were sent up in stops and when the
starting gun doomed out they were on
the starboard tack and stood down the line.
each skipper choosing to take the end of the
two minutes allowed to get over the line.
The Columbia was some distance astern Of
the Constitution and as soon as she reached
the committee boat she bore OF and her
balloon jib topsail was broken out. The
Reliance, at the sol thern end OF the line, bore
on at the same moment and the Constitution
followed. The big kites on these two yachts
we're broken out and all three crossed the
line only separated by few seconds, but
they were after the handicap gun had been
fired.
Mr. Morgan at once headed the Columbia
out in the Sound and she got the full benefit
of the tide, which was running to the east
She had good way on, too, and for a few
moments seemed to draw away from the
others Jibs and forestaysails were run
down on each boat. The wind was from
the south-southwest, very light, and the
course was east-northeast. The Constitu-
ton set her spinnaker to starboard at 1l43
and the Reliance followed a minute later.
The Columbia was doing very well
without her spinnaker and her forestay-
sail waa set instead.
The Reliance did not show the wonder
full drifting qualities she displayed in her
early races on the Sound, and the Columbia,
much to the surprise Of every one, was
heading the new yacht. The Reliance kept
well in toward the Long Island shore to
get the benefit of the better breeze drawing
Of the land and she soon left the Constitu-
ton astern. At 1905, she was of Oak Neck
Point and the Columbia was almost on even
terms with her, but much further of shore.
At 1915 Centre Island buoy was passed by
the Reliance.
The Columbia was still holding her very
close and the Constitution was in a soft
spot about quarter of a mile astern.
Crossing Oyster Bay the Reliance got a
better air and improved her position but
when the Columbia got the breeze she did
much better work and at Lloyds Point the
old champion was in the lead The bell
buoy was passed at l2:45 and the Columbia
was then the leading boat of the trio The
constitution then set her fore staysail and
drew upa trihe, but the Reliance's fore stay
sail was set as soon as il was seen how
wen that sail was drawing on the Con-
tuition, and she did better. Then the
wind freshened somewhat and the Reliance
oadea good gain sailing across the entrance
10 Huntington Bay.
The new yacht was abreast of Eaton's
Week at 25. She was to windward Of the
Columbia and had gone by that boat, and
The Constitution was still a quarter of a
nile astern. Fore staysails We're taken in
on all the yachts, and the Columbia, getting
afavoring puff, again took the lead Ahead
could be seen that the wind had backed
10 the south southeast, and the yachts that
we're racing in the classes that had been
sent of ahead of the 8O-footers had set
baby jib topsails. Jibs and forestays were
SET on the big boats, and at 1:40 O'Clock
he Columbia took in her balloon and sent
up a baby jib topsail in its place. She was
then south of the Norwalk islands. Six
minutes after the Columbia had made the
change the Reliance and the Constitution set
IhGr baby jib topsails in place OF their
balloons
The shift in the wind made a close race
loget 10y Stratford Point and the Columbia
lllIIed and pinched in an effort TO work
across the bows Of the Reliance and keep
The lead The Reliance was footing too
last though and at 2:l0 o'clock the Reliance
look the lead again and the Columbia was
under her lee. Then the Reliance forged
ahead and the Columbia luffed astern OF
her in order to keep to windward of the
Constitution Then the wind lightened again
ana baby iib topsails were changed for
aslze larger
For twenty minutes the air was palry
ana then on the south side of the Sound
ireshened and gradually spread over
ne Sound and was blowing from the south
ny east The Reliance was then north OF
Inc Middle Ground.
Al o'clock jib topsails we're taken in
ana balloons set in their stead, and little
"'sF The Columbia tried spinnaker, but
my mad II up for few minutes. The
IoRslllutlon made perceptible gain with
WI" balloon and the Columbia was left far
astern
Slowly Lm surely the Constitution was
fr, 3 pg'i L., h,