The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-18
BOATS START ON OCEAN RACE.
IN roo AND LIGHT WIND 5000
MILE CONTEST BEGINS.
The Signal Made shortly After Noon, with
tho Hildesarde First Boat to Gross
the Line-Somo Confusion ~ tho Start


Tho Atlantic Goes to tho Front.
The ocean racers are OF on their long
journey. At noon yesterday the committee
in charge Of the start set the preparatory
signal, and fifteen minutes later tho eleven
yachts that are competing for the German
Emperors cup crossed the line. It was not
an ideal day for yacht racing. The weather
was cold and raw. The easterly wind that
had been making things uncomfortable for
some days still prevailed. 1t was hazy and
misty. The yachtsmen were buttoned up
in heavy coats, and the sailors wore their
thick uniforms. Even the work they had
to do failed to keep their blood circulating
we'll.
The scene of Sandy Hook was not an
inspiring one. In some respects II was
worse than 1t was on Tuesday, when the
fog kept the racers at their moorings. On
Tuesday the sun shone through the fog
occasionally. but yesterday was gray.
gloomy and cold. The wind shortly before
the start gave promise OF freshening, but
as soon as the boats were sent OF 1t died
down again, and as long as they were In
sight the racers were not making moro
than seven or eight miles an hour. But It
Ia long way from Sandy Hook to the
Lizard. and yesterdays weather cannot
last all the time. 1t may change to-day
and 80 favor the yachts that the contest
will he lively and exciting one and the
finish brilliant.
Two British, one German and eight
American craft are competing, and ~
each boat has won fame under certain
conditions the race is considered very
open one.
May the best boat win, was the senti-
ment of all who witnessed the start, @and all
get safely across the Atlantic"
In light breeze from thet east. on .
smooth sea and under sky that was over
cast. the Hidegarde, Edward r. Colo
| mans schooner yacht, flying the colors OF
the Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia,
was the first boat to cross the line in the
| race. The yachts were sent OF promptly
ON time, the preparatory signal being made
at noon and the starting signal fifteen
minutes later The Ailsa. Henry s. Red
monds yawl, sailed by Capt. Lem Miller,
was the second boat. She was only few
feet astern Of the Philadelphia schooner,
but was well to windward Of her. and q
few minutes later was the leading boat In
the fleet.
The condit ions we're ideal for the yawl.
, 1t was a beat to windward, and the wind
was light. Capt Miller made the most OF his
opportunity and soon had his boat working
wei! to windward of the whole feet. just
of the lee quarter Of the Ailsa was the big
three masted Atlantic, and Capt. Barr
who has sailed so many Cup defenders to
! victory, was at the wheel.
The tItowana followed the Atlantic. but
the boats had got into such o. c!sse|
| the line that Capt. j. Fl. Crawford took the
wrong side of the committee boat. Think
ing, evidently that this would be all right.
he held on his course. Then came the
German boat, the Hamburg. followed by
the Endymion. the holder of the ocean REQ
ord. The Valhala. the ship rugged boat.
was next, but she. like the Utowana, went
the wrong side OF the committee boat.
/ Under her lee was the Thistle. Then came
the Flelr dc lays, followed some time later
by Lord Brassey's Sunbeam and the
Apache.
ALL CROSS ON PORT TACK.
Signals were at once set on the COM
mittee boat calling the Nalhalla and the
Utowana back and the error that the skip
pers of these two boats made at the line
cost them nearly an hours time. 1t was
aft err / o'clock when the Valhalla again
crossed the line and then she stood after
the boats that had gone ahead.
All crossed on the port tack. close hauled
ON the wind. The schooners carried main
topma st staysails in addition to their regu-
lar working canvas. But in the light air
that prevailed they made slow Roadway
and sailed only about eight miles in the
first hour. Then the fog that had married
the start arranged for Tuesday began to
roll in from the ocean, and the boats were
lost in the mist. The Atlantic in tho
meantime had footed faster than her smaller
rival. the Ailsa. and gradually drawn ahead.
The Ailsa Oh account of her weather posi-
ton, held second place and was closely
pressed by the Hamburg while the Hide
garde was fourth and the Endymion fifth.
Capt. Loesch on the Endynion held on
his port tack until the leaders were being
covered up by the fog and then took the
siarbcard tack heading toward the north
ward and eastward. The Fleur de Lys
was the next boat, and the Thistle followed
the Fleur de Lys, but considerably to les
ward OF her. Then came the Sunbeam
doing very well under the conditions, for
this boat wants plenty Of wind-the Apache.
Utowana and Valhala
This was the order Of the boats whom
they were lost to sight. 1t was probable
that this offshore tack would be held only
a little longer and then that the boats would
stand in toward Long Island, and eventually
work by Montauk Point and then on to
Nantucket. where they will separate. each
skipper taking the course he thinks beat
suited to his boat.
Ten of the eleven yachts anchored on
Tuesday night in the Horseshoe. The
Feur de Lys, which, owing to collision,
was forced to return to the Erie Basin for
repairs. was lowed down again in the eve-
ming. She had about twenty feet OF new
rail and bulwarks on the starboard side OK
tending from the mainmast forward, and
several feet of new planking. Her sides had
been badly scraped by the scow. and she
looked more like fisherman than dainty
yacht, but Capt. Tommy Bohlen was well
satisfied to have the boat back again ready
for the start, and DR.. Stimson, her owner.
was also pleased that the dana &c was not
more serious.
Miss Condace C. Stmson accompanies
her father on the Fleur de Lys, and she is