Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-18
RACE OVER SEA
FOR KA|SER'S CUP
YACHTS START ON VOYAGE
ACROSS THE OCEAN
SCHOONER ATLANTIC IN LEAD
Utowana and VaIhaIIa Are Pooketed
and Are Delayed In Crossing the
Line-Latter Misses Stays
and Loses Much Time
BY Associated Press.


BY Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May IA splendid
fleet of sailing yachts swept across a
starting line at Sandy Hook lightship
at 1916 p. m. today and with the queen
ly American schooner Atlantic leading
the way, headed out ito the broad At
lantic ocean on a race of 5000 miles to
the English coast for a $4,000 cup offered
by Emperor William of Germany. When
last seen as they vanished into the mist
they were strung out In a line six miles
long, hauling southeastward and point
ing as nearly as possible to a wind that
was dead ahead A quarter of mile
astern of the Atlantic was the ninety
foot American yawl Ailsa, which was
having a hot brush with the German
schooner Hamburg, while all three of
the leaders were slowly dropping the
Philadelphia schooner Hildegarde. Next
was the Endymion, holder of the trans
atlantic yachting record. Almost a
mile astern of the Atlantic and more
than half mile astern of the Endy-
mion were the Thistle and Fleur de
Lis. Strung out behind were the Amer
lean bark Apache, the British topsail
schooner Sunbeam and five miles
astern of the leader the American
three-masted schooner Utowana. Bring
ing up the rear was the British clipper
ship Valhalla These two had been de-
1o o,,o5 I11z a ho6 Start
Weather Conditions Unfavorabie
Leaden skies, low-hanging, mist
laden clouds and moderate east wind
were the unfavorable conditions under
which the great ocean race was start
ed. and the three big square rigged
vessels were handicapped mt the very
start, for at beating to windward in
light air their spreading courses and
bulging topsails were not to be COM
pared with the hard fitting fore and
aft canvas of the trim schooners.
Weather prophets declared it not un-
likely that the racers were in for day
| or two more of moderate head winds.
If the forecast be fulfilled, nothing but
half a gale of wind from astern will
save the big Valhalla from defeat.
Despite the lowering weather condi-
tions the start of the great and
Heterogeneous fleet was inspiring. After
the postponement of the day before the
yachts lay in their anchorages within
the shelter of Sandy Hook last night.
The fog of the day previous had lifted
considerably, but still hung low and
obscured the vision beyond few miles.
The German schooner Hamburg was
the first to leave the anchorage and
pass out through Gedney's channel
The Valhalla, Ailsa and Thistle fol-
lowed, and before 1890 the fleet was
streaming in tow out through the chan
mel toward the lightship and past the
stranded Cunard liner Caronia, whose
passengers crowded to the rails to wit
ness the procession.
Starting Line Fixed
The committee boat, with Commander
Hebbinghaus of the German navy,
Commander H. M. Hosley of the United
states navy, oliver E. Cromwell, New
bury d. Lawton, H. Deb. Parsons and
Edward II. Wales of the New York
Yacht club on board, anchored an
eighth of mile east of Sandy Hook
lightship and established the starting
line between them shortly after IL
o'clock. A fleet of yachts and ships be-
gan to assemble. AS the racers began
to arrive they were towed to the north
and windward of the starting line.
Most of the schooners soon after reach
ing the starting line dropped the tows,
set their sails and began to wheel about
in and out through the fleet like high
stepping horses, displaying their PAGES
for the admiring spectators. Meanwhile
the wide topsails of the Valhalla were
unfurled and sheeted home and one
after another tall topsails, topgallant
sails. royals and staysails of the square
rugged craft were spread to the soft
breeze. |
The bluepeter giving warning of i'm
pending departure was run up on the
mast of the committee tug. At noon
there was a flash and spurt and a
warning report rolled among the fleet,
giving notice that the race would start
in ten minutes. Ten minutes later a
gun sounded and the PROV of every
craft swung toward the starting line.
Jockeying for Start
1t was an inspiring spectacle. Near
the line the small Ailsa, bearing every
mark of the racer, was engaged in q
jockeying match with the Hildegarde.
and to avoid being forced across the
line prematurely, performed some
startling maneuVers. Behind them to
the north and east the fleet was spread
cut in fan shape. Close astern of the
leaders was the Atlantic, where Capt.
Charles Barr had placed her in we'll
timed position. The Endymion, Ham