Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-30
RELIANCE LEADS
Columbia and Constitution
Across the Finish Line.
Had No Trouble in Showing Them
Her Heels All the Way.
Columbia Takes a Brace and Outsails
the Constitution.

| cup yacht Reliance proved, today, her
worth as q heavy weather boat when
| she defeated the Columbia and Consti-
tuition in stiff easterly breeze and
lumpy sea over a 30-mile course, Is
miles of which was a beat to windward
| The newest Herreshoff creation sailed
the course in minutes, 9 seconds less
| than did the Columbia and minutes
So seconds less than did the Consti-
tuition.
| What surprised the experts the most
| was the performance of the Columbia.
| In the previous races the showing made
by the older boat has been disappoint-
ing and at no time this season has the
Constitution had any difficulty in beat
ing her. All the racing in which these
boats have participated up to today
| has been in light airs and smooth
water, but, this afternoon, there was
smashing good whole sail breeze blow
ing and considerable jump to the water,
conditions that are exactly suited to
| the Columbia. With her owner, E. D.
Morgan at the helm, the old cup de-
| fender sailed a grand race, reaching
the windward mark only l minute, Sc
seconds astern of the Reliance and
minute, 81 seconds ahead of the Con-
stitution.
On the run home, however, with
spinnakers and balloon jibs hoisted the
Reliance pulled away steadily from
| both her opponents, while the Consti-
tuition gained considerably on the Co
lumbia. Capt. Barr sailed the new
sloop for all there was in her and gave
her rigging and spars a thorough test
4 ing. Twice he wore ship when maneu-
vering for the start and on each oc-
casion a gust Of wind heeled the craft
down until the water was nearly up
| to the matches.
| Todays race was the first of a series
given by the New York Yacht Club
and there will be one every day this
week. Commodore E. Cass Led
yard has offered cup for the boat
making the best showing in the series
and Rear Commodore Cornelius Van
! derbilt will give a cup to the craft that
comes off second best.
| When Col. Thompson's steam yacht
Riviera with the regatta committee on
board reached Brentons reef lightship,
at 1890 this morning, the wind was
due east and the Riviera steamed off to
| the southwest and anchored about three
miles east of Point Judith.
| Captains Barr and Rhodes began to
hunt each other as soon as the COM
pass course became known and soon a
protest flag was flying in the Consti-
tution's rigging. Mr.. Morgan put his
ship to the line in splendid style, get
ting the coveted weather BERTH close to
| the committee boat. The Constitution
led the way from up to the weather of
the Riviera with Reliance close behind
and Columbia up on the latter's
quarter.
The Constitution, just as the start
ing gun was fired at 1915, luffed up
and shot across the line. Reliance was
second over and Columbia third. The
official starting time was:
Constitution ................ 12.15.20
Reliance ......... .......... 12.l5.24
columbia .......... ........ l2.lo.26
The Columbia tackled to port i'm
mediately after crossing and the Re-
lliance followed suit 20 seconds later to
get away from the Constitutions back
wind.
Mr.. Morgan put his ship about once
more, evidently thinking he could force
| Reliance around. Columbia had the
right of way but Capt. Barr luffed his
charge out across her bows and planted
Reliance to weather of the older boat.
Reliance plainly outfooted and out
pointed Columbia while the latter was
| getting away from Constitution. The
new boat acted we'll in the choppy seas.
At 1896 Constitution came about ana
Capt. Barr followed suit at once, well
ahead and to the weather of Constitu-
ton. The two newest 90-footers stood
along the cliff shore on the port tack,
Reliance crossing the bows Of Column
bia by n comfortable margin and the
latter doing the same trick to Consti-
tuition.
| When up to weather of the later Co
lumbia came about again. To get his
wind clear, Capt Rhodes tackled to
starboard once moro at 12.4 80 and Re-
Iliance went about at 12.46. Columbia,
to hold her wind clear, also tackled to
starboard before Reliance had crossed
her bow. The newest boat was out
lpointing Columbia and to keep COnstf-
tuition in the rear Capt. Barr went
about on the port tack at 1856 and took
up a position on the weather bow of
Mr.. Belmont's boat. The old cup de-
| fender also took a port hitch and the
three big sloops drove along at a great
speed until 1.25.
Then Reliance. having worked her
way out across the bow of Columbia,
tackled to starboard and with Columbia
out ahead but to leeward, steered up
into the mouth of the Seakonnet river
to take advantage of the smooth water
and favorable tide. Constitution trail
| ed the other two half mile astern. By
this time the windward mark was in
sight and all three went tearing for the
mark and wearing around one after
the other, gybed their booms to port.
The unofficial turning times We're:
| Columbia ................... z. 1881
| constitution .................... ..Z.l2.02
Reliance and Columbia broke out
their spinnakers to starboard as soon
as they were fairly on the home course,
| the latter breaking out her balloon jib
as soon as the spinnaker began to
Continued on page 2.)