Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-20
THE CONSTITUTION
Sails So Well As to Brighten
the New Reliance.
Latter Leads by Only ITO Seconds in
aFour-Hour Race.
And Still the Sentiment Is in New
Boats Favor.

N,
tuition did not defeat the Reliance on
time allowance in Bonnie race over
the course of the Indian Harbor Yacht
Club in Long Island Sound, today, she
gave the admirers Of the new boat a
bad scare. In more than four hours
of sailing the Reliance outsailed her
by only minute and so seconds elapsed
time. Experts estimate that the new
boat will have to allow the Constitution
to minutes in a 30-mile race, which,
If true, might give today's race to the
older boat, as we'll as one of the earlier
races when the Reliance beat her by
2 minutes and a fraction.
Columbia was again outclassed from
the start. Her gain of about IL minutes
on q second leg of the race was time
wasted by the other boats in luffing
match.
. Between the leaders the race was hot
ly contested, first one and then the
other getting the better of 1t by sud-
den shift of the wind, which, when 1t
began TO blow steadily, left the Reliance
about minute ahead.
The Constitutions fast sailing, today,
was all the more remarkable and makes
her all the more formidable from the
fact that the race was sailed in light
winds and smooth water, under which
conditions the Reliance has often beaten
her.
The contest of the captains began at
the starting line when Capt. Barr of
the Reliance cleverly robbed Capt.
Rhodes Of the Constitution of an adj
vantage cleverly gained and forced the
TnnStitnfjnro RI pjUo n him n
avoid a collision. Rhodes had the Con-
stitution at the windward end of the
line and would have forced the Reliance
to take a leeward position but for
Bars move in poking the Reliance be-
tween the Constitution and the mark.
Constitution flew a protest flag, prob
ably for that reason. 1t is a question
whether Barr had established the over
lap required to give him the right Of
way.
The course was an elongated triangle,
10 miles easterly and diagonally across
the sound, five miles north straight
across to the Connecticut shore and 10
mile long that shore to the finish line.
The start was in this order:
Rellance ......'''' '..-'''' '.'.' a. wv
ColunDla ......... .....' 1N.fo'o@
The first leg was a 10 mile beat east
erly and across the sound. The wind
was not more than four knots.
Only across the line the Constitution
was fairly blanketed by the Reliance
and forced to keep off while the Re-
lance quickly worked few hundred
yards to windward of her. Columbia
split tacks with the others and was
never in company with them afterWard.
After an hour, during which they had
worked off into the middle of the sound
the Reliance, having the right of way,
essayed to cross the CONSTITUTIONS bow,
but failed. An hour after the start she
accomplished it, but a few minutes
later the wind backed to northeast and
gave the Constitution the lead. She
had held it 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 a circle round the Constitu-
ton before the latter began to feel the
new breeze.
They turned the first mark almost
side by side and with the wind hauling
to the southwest started to reach five
miles north and across the sound to
the next turn. A hot luffing match for
the windward position ensued. In
which the Constitution was handi-
capped by carrying a balloon jibtopsail.
Capt Barr had no sooner luffed the Re-
lance from under the Constitutions
lee then the wind shifted and he had to
do it all over again. They fought 1t
out for half an hour and it carried them
far off their course; but the Reliance
finally shook off her rival and they
filled away for the turn with the new
boat leading by few hundred yards
and more than minute and half at
the turn.
There had betn just enough rain to
thwart Mr.. Iselin's effort to keep the
Rel&Ance's sails dry.
"A steady six-knot south wind sent them
Keeling off the 10 miles of the last leg
southwesterly to the finish line at stiff
clip. 1t was procession interesting
chiefly for the splendid marine picture
when the sun broke through the clouds
and hung n rainbow across the sound I'M
der the arc of which the yachts with their
tall spires OF canvas. milky white under
the rays of the setting sun, reached away
e., 4bo 0n;eb line Tho cI,,,,nary.