Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-30
SLOOP VENUS
WINS VALUED CUP
PEASE'S FLYER AGAIN TAKES
TROPHY
CLOSE FIGHT FOR SUPREMACY
Annual Event OF Terminal Island Is
Productive Of Brilliant Race.
Mischief Second and Marie
Finishes Last
CLOSE FIGHT FOR SUPREMACY

Never before in the history of yacht
ing In Southern California waters has
there been a more interesting race than
was seen yesterday off Terminal island.
The prize was well worthy of the
greatest efforts on the part of the
amateur tars, massive silver cup,
donated by Gen. Harrison Gray Otis,
to be sailed for every year by any yacht
on the Pacific coast under thirty-fve
feet racing length owned by a member
of some recognized yacht club.
The contestants, Marie, Venus and
Mischief, have all been through a sea-
son of racing and shippers and crews
were drilled to the minute. A twelve
knot breeze which freshened during the
race put sails under and sent the spray
flying as the beautiful craft sped over
the comparatively smooth sea.
A fairly large number Of people wit
messed the start at 2 p. M when the
three boats crossed the starting line so
close together that they almost seemed
as one boat and headed out on close
reach for the first stake boat, anchored
off the new breakwater. In this leg the
Mischief received slight lead over the
other boats, but rapidly lost 1t after
rounding, the Marie taking the lead and
holding it until the second mark was
reached, close under the wharf at Long
Beach.
Thisis accounted for by the fact that
the Marie jibed SO that the slant OF the
wind had greater driving power, several
minutes before the other boats. All
three boats proved lack of preconcerted
plan at the first of this leg in setting
their light sails, but it really did not
figure in the final outcome.
At Long Beach the Mischief was but
one second ahead Of the Marie, while
the Venus trailed a full minute and
half in the rear. After close hauling
for the heat back to the breakwater,
which was practically in the eye OF the
wind, it became question of the ability
of the skipper, the man at the tiilep'
as.to who should win, the Marie or the
Mischief, the Venus being too far be-
hind. as everyone thought, to be
factor in the race. The Mischief and
Marie came about after a short tack
and stood out to sea, the Mischief rapid
embarrassing her lead.
In splitting tacks the Marie chose
the land berth, bringing her down un-
der Brighton Beach, where the venus
was slipping along unnoticed, the MIS-
chief continuing on the starboard tack
far out. With the Marie and Venus
coming together on different tacks, 1t
was found that Capt. Herb Pease had
planned wisely, for the Venus crossed
the Marie's bows nicely and fairly flew
on a straight course for the stakeboat,
the Mischief being some miles out to
sea.
Then began the most interesting
spectacle that the yachting man
knows-two boats both trying to reach
the same given point by the help only
of heaven-given breezes.
1t was battle royal, but in the
end the "slant" Of the wind and the
natural ability of feeling" it told, and
the Venus rounded the mark fifteen
seconds ahead of her big, black-hulled
rival The Marie rounded nearly three
minutes later.
Stacking off the main and jib sheets
a bit, the boats started on the final
spurt, the Mischief gradually overhaul
ing her smaller competitor until at the
finish she had exactly eighteen seconds
the advantage in place, but owing to
her superior sail plan and build the
Venus was given a handicap, figured
the same as the great eastern clubs,
of FIVE minutes and thirteen seconds
on the course sailed, giving her the
race handily.
The summary: Course, IL miles; q
miles close reach; S1s miles run; S1s
miles dead beat; miles easy reach.
Wind, 12 knots, freshening. through
race; incoming tide; easy sea.
Start. 2 p. m. First mark, 2 miles.
Mischief, 2:19:15; Marie. 2:19:25; Venus,
2:1s;S0.
Second mark, Sh miles-Marie, 2:51;
Mischief, 2:51;15; Venus, 2:52:SO.
Third mark, 3A miles-Venus, 1855;
Mischief. 3:5515 Marie. S:5s:10.
Finish - Mischief, 4:14:OO; Venus,
4:141S; Marie, 4:17:15.
Corrected time-Mischief, 2:14; We
nus, 2:14:1S; Marie, 2:17:15.
Corrected time after deducting time
allowance for superior size-Venus,
s;9;a; Mischief (scratch). 2:14; Marie
2:14:59.