Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-18
On Their 3ooo-Mi|e Race
!. Across the Ocean.
The Atlantic Leads, With Line
Strung Out Six Miles Long.
Ailsa Second and British vaIhaha Last
Big Crowd Witnesses Start.

New York. May IA superb fleet o
ocean-going sailing yachts swept across
a starting line at Sandy Hook light
ship 1T 1925 P. NJ, today. and with tn
Tueenly American schooner Atlantic
leading the way. headed cut into thu
broad Atlantic ocean on a race of 3OOl
miles to the English coast for a 5000
cup offered by Emperor William.
When last seen as they vanished int
the mist they were strung in a line ST.
miles long. heading southeastward am
pointing as, nearly as possible to a win
that was dead ahead. a quarter of 4
mile aStern of the Atlantic was the 80
foot American yawl Ais;i. which was
having hot brush with the German
schooner Hamburg. while all three Of
the leaders We're slowly dropping tn
Philadelphia schooner 4ildegarde. Next
was the EndymiOn, holder of the trans
Atlantic yachting record
Almost a mile aste!n Of the swift At
lantic and more than a i!alf mile astern
Of the Endymion We're the Thistle and
Fleur De Lys. Strung out behind We're
the American barque Apache, the Brit
ish topsail schooner sunbeam, and five
miles aStern of the leader, was the
American three-mastcd schooner ITO
wanna. Bringing up the rear was thu
British clipper ship Valiialla. The two
latter hal been delayed by a bad start
In such weather as prevailed. today
it was clear that the SAGE lay between
the Atlantic. Ailsa. and Hamburg. with
the odds largely in favor of the Allan
tic.
Misleading skies, low hanging. and
misleading winds were the conditions
under which the great race was started
and handicapped the three big square
beating to windward in light wind
their changing courses ard budging
topsais were not to he compared with
the hardtitting fore and aft canvas of
the trim schoOners. Weather prophets
said it was not unlikely that the racers,
were in for a day or two more of mod
crate 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-
lions the start of the tl>ct was inspir-
ing. Account of the pos, i,one ment of the
day before, the yachts lay i'll their an
chorage at Sandy Hook. last night. Tho
fog of the day previous had lifted con-
siderable. but still hung too low ami
obscured the vision beyond few miles.
The committee boat with Commander
of the German navy. Co H.
II. II. Hosley Of the United
States navy. Oliver e. Cromwell, New
bury D. Lawton. II. b. Parsons. AMI
Edward II. Wales Of the New York
Yacht Club. on board. anchored about
an eighth of mile east Of Sandy HOOP.
lightshlp and established the starting
line between them shortly after II
O'Clock. A fleet Of spectator yachts and
tugs began 10 assemble.
AS the racers arrived they We're tow
ed to the north and windward Of the
starting line. Most of the schOoners
soon after reaching the line dropped
their tows. set their hcadsails and be-
gan to wheel about in and out through
the fleet like high stepping horses dis
playing their PAGES for the admirinS
spectators.
Almost at the flash Of the starting
gun the Aisa and Hidegarde went
across the line. with the yawl slightly
in the lead and in the wndward posi-
ton. Wding close behind them came
the Atlantic. Endynion. Hamburg.
Thistle, Utowana and Nalhalla in that
order.
AS the vessels crowded together at
the windward end Of the starting line
each captain anxious 10 secure the
weather position the schocners in the
lead crowded the Utowana and Valhai-
la so badly that they were unable to
cross the line without collision. They
approached the line from such a direc-
ton that the other yachts were cross
ing their bows. yet they held to their
so long that the Utowana, the
leader Of the two, became pocketed SO
that she could not turn about Both she
md the Valhalla bore down upon the
schooners threatening!y.
Passing between n tug and
he committee boat it looked as
hough they were going to smash
ntO the Atlantic and EndymiOn
md an order came from The committee
% go about and cross the line properly.
Barely in time to prevent n collision the
1eet made an opening for them and
hey went through them and swung in
@ line. Warning whistles and signal
lags recalled them. but not until they
lad gone more than half a mile on
heir course we're they able to get clear
If the fleet and return and re-cross thu
inc.
All the leaders got away within a
minute OF the starting gun at 1915. bu:
he Fleur De Lys crossed at 1927. Sum
Beam at 1890. Apache at 1885, Unto
wana at 1851 and Valhalia at 125. The
after was in irons attacking at the line
md thus badly delayed.
Among the leaders the yawl Ailsa, as
in the light winds. chung to-
Inc windward positions and quickly
lrew away from the Hildegarde. The
ong. lean three-masted Atlantic. with
capt. Barr at the helm. went after and
slipped by them both like keen grey
hound, and at her stern hung the Ger