The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-15
YACHTS READY FOR
SQUALLS OR CALM
Competitors Lined Up for Start
Of the Kaiser's Ocean
Race.
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service.
New York, May 15.-In a blanket of fog
as thick as sauerkrapt the Eschooners which are
to take part in the great international race
across the Atlantic lay idly at their anchors
yesterday. They could not even preen their
plumage or try their great wings, for the wind
lay fiat on rivers and bays, and beyond the
Hook it seemed as tho the entire cotton crop
was rolling I'D from the southern states
In the opinion of old yachtsmen, this race
will be the greatest in the history of yachting
Three of the most powerful nations of the
world are represented. They are Germany
England and America. Nothing like it has ever
been known before, and the wonder Of this
wild drive across the thousand league levels
between the Hook and the Lizard will exist
when the memory of the Americas cup races
has became dim and nebuous.
A Sailors Race.
There will be no coming inside snug har-
Dor shelter when the racers once start. 1t will
be pile on, hold on, reef, tack and plunge day
by day from dawn to dusk and from dusk to
dawn again until the goal Is won. 1t will be
a deep-sea sailors race, a big .w1nd-Jammer S
race and an emperors race with pretty fair
chance of the blessed old mug going to the
emperor's subjects at the finish. For that black
seawolf, Hamburg, looks like winner from
her thick stubby bowsprit to her mastcaps.
AS natural consequence of the great vari-
ETY. of racers entered for this event. the opinions
of experts differ as to the final result. The
little Fleur de Lis, while holding the sympathy
of all, would seem to have very little chance
Of winning. She is stanch and can hold up
under a tremendous blow, but she is scarcely
speedy enough to hold her own with the other
flyers. The Ailsa eats a head wind and SO
does her countryman, the Atlantic. But the
latter can wallow faster thru a heavy than
the more slender Ailsa.
Hamburg Is Dangerous.
The Thistle, Captain Tod's bonny, craft, is a
| wizard at reaching in stiff breezes and 80 is
the big Valhalla. The Sunbeam is weatherly
and true, but she is looked upon more d
houseboat than racer.arThe Hamburg is dan
gerous in anything from catspaws to hurr
canes. and she rides today she looks the
winner. Moderate weather will help the Tito
wanas chances amazingly, and she Is good or
the reach. The Endymion is a dangerous boa
1 and should finish up among the leaders witt
any kind Of running weather. p.
The long gruelling contest before the boats
means wear and tear which tits hard for any
| one who has not crossed the ocean under sal
| to appreciate. But each and every one Il
| thoroly preparing for it. In every spare locke
! and down on the hold bottom are being stoves
| row after of spare sails. There are heap
| and marlin which If stretched out would reacl
for miles. Hemp, manila and cotton ropes man.
of them entwined with tar, have been mad
ready for settings bitches and bends to b
/ turned into housings for. and flashing eyes
| rackings, sheepshanks. catspaws and hundre
thing for two objects speed and safety, i
provided. ......-. ...r
Taking Small Boats.
I All the yachts have taken precautions as t
small boats. The Atlantic and Endymion hav
each been supplied with six dories to carry o
their decks, and the Hamburg has four co
lapsible Hfeboats. On the Thistle tw
twenty -seven-foot gigs and two smaller ones
All four are nonsinkable zlifeboats. The Fleu
| de Lis has two g1gS.@ ..Hs.N