The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-29
A Puff Of Wind Disabled the
Belmont Boat for the Race.
THE RElIANEE WAS LEADING
The New Boat Had No Trouble In Beating
the Columbia, Which Was Not
Well Handled.

New York May 2s.-The Constitutions
hoodoo almost spoiled the race OF the
trio OF cup defenders in Long Island
sound yesterday. After sailing nine
miles OF the first leg OF the race the Con-
stitutioS's topmast was carried away In
a pufr OF wind and she was out of the
race for the day.
When the accident occurred the Con-
stitution was half mile behind the Re-
lance and was leading the Columbia by
an equal distance.
Reliance crossed the finish lire WIN
ner by minutes and "a seconds over the
former favorite.
After "A bit OF jockeying at the start
ing line. Captain Rhodes had put the
Constitution In position he coveted on
the w.ndward quarter OF the Reliance
the whole length OF the starting line clear
TO the mark opposite the committee boat
BEFORE he would give way and permit
Constitution to cross and take that posi-
ton.
starting line was crossed and until the
Reliances superior speed had pulled her
ont OF a bad position. Then twenty
minutes after the start the two rivals
kept off for the turning mark. The
Constitution was carrying a big balloon
5ibtopsail while the other boats wore
smaller reaching jbtopsails
on the Constitution. when the latter
felt the disastrous pun. The starboard
upper spreadeT, which stiffened the top
mast gave way and the hollow. wooden
topmast snapped of eight feet above
the mainmasthead. The broken spar
together with the clubtopsail pole. the
balloon jibtopsaii and the opmast rig
ging hung suspended by the clubtopsal
which hung across the main peak
halyards.
The topsaiI was torn half across its
width by the falling gear. but none OF
the spsrs struck the deck. Ma
The yacht was hove 10. and the wreck
age quickly cleared away. August Bel
mont. her managing owner. who was on
board. said that the Constitutions spare
topmast was in Bristol and that he did
not expect TO get IL In time 10 sail In
Saturdays race. No one had been in
jured.
Reliance beat the Columbia 4 minutes
and 81 seconds on the first leg. and 30
seconds on the second leg. The last leg
was long slant closehauled. fetching
the finishing line without a tack or
pinching too closely into the wind. II
was the prettiest spectacle Of the day
for the wind had freshened to twelve
knots. and the Reliance had her lee rail
down into the froth ard was reeling OF
eleven knots to the hour while the
pride of former years dragged mile
and half astern. Reliance had beaten
her minutes and seconds on that
leg.
The Reliance and Columbia started on
with No. l jibtopsails. but the Constitu-
tion, by setting a balloon jib. crawled UP
rapidly the two other boats. A half
mile from the start the Reliance and the
Constitution passed the Columbia to the
windward and the Constitution had
drawn up on the Reliance until she was
however were having a sharp luffing
match, which carried them way In to-
ward Oak Neck.
The Reliance and Constitution had a
nice uffng match all the way to Lloyd's
Neck The big balloon jib OF the Constitu-
tion enabled her to keep well up on the
new boat. The luffing match sent the
two boats well to the windward OF the
course. while the Columbia held Off well
into the Sound, and seemed to lose by
that manoeuvre.
Then the accident to Constitution oc-
CURED, but the other boats kept on. and
their time at the turn was:
Reliance Observation-Disclosures. 1:31:S
Columbia ..................-....., l;oo.lO
Both boats trimmed In sheets for a
close fetch to the finish. and the Reli-
ance Immediately gained on the Column
bia. The wind freshened TO ten knots and
the Yachts sailed the last leg very finely.
The Reliance gained continually on the
last leg and crossed the line nearly two
miles ahead OF the Columbia.
The Reliance crossed the finish line at
22s:21.
The Columbia crossed at e:3i:i5.
-..-.. -. .nsn,~.s