Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-29
TEST RACES TODAY
Constitution Got Over Starting
 Line First
BUT SOON DROPPED BEHIND

Second -- The Constitution Had
 Trouble With Her Head Sails The
 Race Between the Reliance and the
 Columbia Was Very Exciting.
 Bateman's Point, R. l., June 29.- The foul weather fiend, which has per sistently followed the three cup yachts Reliance, Constitution and Columbia, almost since the racing season began, apparently had followed the big sloops to Newport, where to-day they were scheduled to hold the first of series of six races under the direction of the New York Yacht club.
 The vanes on the Newport churches were turned to the east early to-day, but there was scarcely life enough in the air to carry the early morning smoke across the bay and the sky was dull and lowering. Still the yachting portion of the summer colony here, many of whom had not seen the boats fn the contest appeared eager for a race under any conditions and the club pier was busy place during the three or four hours before the usual time for starting for Brenton's reef lightslip.
 The harbor was well filled with 
 all of those were prepared to follow the racers. One or two small excursion steamers also filled with enthusiasts, came down an hour or two before the time set for the start.
 The regatta committee of the New York Yacht club in charge of the races this week, had laid out two courses for the yachts, each thirty miles in length, one straight away from the lightship for 15 miles and re turn and the other triangular course of ten miles on a side. With the wind from the east, it looked to-day as if the committee would select the first one and send the yachts on long beat in the direction of Buzzard's bay, with the turning mark off Cuttyhunk. Early conditions, however, made postponement seem more probable than a race in any direction.
 At about 10 o'clock to everyone's. delight, breeze began to develop and half an hour later 1t was blowing nearly 12 knots straight out of the east The sea also began to make up and the smaller sailing boats which had preceded the racers out to the start rolled and jumped into it in good shape. The committee on board of Colonel R. F. Thompson's steam yacht Reviera appeared shortly before Il o'clock. and prepared to take up her position at the hghtship. All three yachts soon f@llowed, carrying medium sized cIubtopsails over the usual lower sails. Half an hour before the time set for the start the conditions for the race were almost perfect, although the sky was somewhat overcast and there looked as if there might be rain be- fore the day was over.
 The Columbia was the first to ap- pear out of the harbor, followed q few minutes later by the Reliance and Constitution The last two came down together, although the Reliance out footed her rival and reached the light ship some distance ahead of the 1901 boat As the Reliance came out into the open sea she began to pound and slap the water vigorously, contrasting considerably with the two older boats which made the sea with but little disturbance Accompanying the yachts was N. G. Herreshoff, the de- signer and builder of all three who came out i'll his little houseboat Remar A dozen large steam yachts as we'll as the tenders for the three boats also came out for the start
 At II o'clock the wind had hauled to little north of east and the regatta committee was obliged to shift the starting point from the lightship to three or four miles south of it. The change was signalled as the iudges' boat ran off to the southWard. At this time it was the evident intention of the committee to give the yachts a windward and leeward course of 15 miles and at the same time provide them sufficient sea room so as not to crowd them on the southern Massa chusetts shore in the beat to the mark.
 The wind showed 8 blow out of the east and at 12 o'clock white caps were in evidence. The starting time was as follows: Constitution 12:1513, Reli- ance 12:15:18 and Columbia 12:15:42 h the heavy sea the speed of the Re, liance was marvellous. The Constitu- tion had trouble with her head sails and the other boats dropped her rapid ly. As the Reliance kept on she met heavier seas and at 12:55 the Columbia had pulled up so close that it looked as If the old defender was within her time allowance on the new boat. The contest between the Reliance and the Columbia was very exciting.
 The poor work of the Constitution WdS disappointing Tn view or the excel lent showing in the previous races. Both the Reliance and Columbia held well into the Seaconet river before tacking. for the mark. The Constitu- ton swung around before she reached there and it looked as if she gained by that move. At ? o'clock the boats were well down to the mark with the ReIi- ance still leading while from this point it looked as if the Constitution had closed up considerably ,on the other two The yachts turned the outer mark as follows: Reliance 2:08:47. Columbia 2:10:33 and the Constitution 2:12:19.
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