Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-16
MEMBER OF MONSOON CREW is
SWEPT ovERBoARD
Great interest Taken in Event over
TweIve-Mile Course, but Con-
fusion Is Result of
Instructions
BY jack vIvARTTAs


tonight. BY clever handling the cham
pion of several years ago today defeat
ed both Monsoon and Columbine in a
breeze that was TOO much for either of
the newer boats.
Unfortunately the finish was not as
satisfactory as 1t might have been if
Monsoon had not lost five minutes at the
second turn of the last leg of the race,
when Don Leach was swept overheard
by the spinnaker filling before it was set.
But as it was Mischief had rounded the
outer mark fully two minutes before
Monsoon, and it was only a question of
how much she would have beaten Mon
soon on the run home.
Not in years has there been so much
excitement over a twelve-mile event as
was manifested here today when three
classes of yachts were started in a race
three miles to windward and return,
twice around. BY misunderstanding of
the regatta committee hardly any of the
eight starters was correctly informed as
to the actual starting time. AS conse-
quence none of the larger boats were
ready when the gun was fired.
Monsoon had a position to windward.
but was not by any means in the lead
over the line. Columbine, in company
with most of the smaller craft was we'll
to leeward, while Mischief hadn't even a
look in. Just before the supreme moment
the judges boat bore down on Mischief
and notified Captain Whitney that only a
minute and a half of margin was his
until the gun would be fired
Mischief's Start Poor
With even this short notice the black
craft put about and made for the line,
but before she could get into anything
like a good position the others were
we'll on their way. Not worrying about
the actual start, Whitney held to the port
tack astern of the whole fleet until he
had gained a windward berth, and then
came over the line fully two minutes late.
Columbine, Monsoon, the yawls and
cats were all punched ahead as we in the
old Mischief got squared away in our
course Columbine appeared to be having
trouble with her number two jib and re
placed it with larger one. Monsoon held
the windward berth until well off the
point, when she stood off shore for a
short tack.
Columbine and Mischief kept in shore,
as did most of the smaller vessels, but
Monsoon continued to gain to the first
mark leading Mischief and Columbine
by at least two minutes. Mischief was at
least whole minute ahead of Columbine
and the three made a very pretty race to
the flags off the steamboat pier.
Monsoon got a spinnaker set imme
diately after going over on the leeward
leg. Mischief had less luck, and before,
her light sails got to drawing well ColuIn-
bine had eaten up more of her lead. At
this time the yawls were still beating to
windward in the heavy sea and the cats
and Valkyrie could be seen way off TO
1eeward. Monsoon had established lead
that was not to be overcome on the first
round of the race, but Columbine easily
overlook Mischief on the run off the wind
toward the point. Monsoon's light sails
had to be doused, as they were of no use
in the fancy steering around the kelp.
This enabled both Mischief and Colum-
bine to cut down the great lead which
Pugh had, but they could not get near
enough to Monsoon to bother her on the
first half of the race.
Mitchell Makes Mistake
On the run off the wind, Capt. Mitchell
made the greatest mistake of the day
when he shook out the reef in Columbines s
mainsail. 1t might have helped her some
on that particular log of the race, but it
put quietus on any chances he may
have had to winning the race.
Mischief was forced to douse her spin
aker and set a balloon jib before the lee
ward run was finished, because the kelp
made anything like a straight course inn
possible and there was danger of gybing
the spinnaker most any time
Monsoon finished the first half closely
followed by Columbine, which led Mis-
chief by less than minute. Once
around the mark Pugh stood inshore
again, but Mitchell chose an outside tack
Mischief followed Monsoon, and to this is
probably due the fact that the older boat
outpointed and outfooted Monsoon on the
way to the windward mark.
With her whole mainsail, Columbine
staggered along with only one side out of
the water, burying herself so deep that
she could not foot to good advantage.
Monsoon. too, was boring, while old Mis-
chief threw water over everything in
sight. Four times Monsoon went about
in the thrash to windward up the beach,
and each time Whitney followed with
Mischief.
AS the sea got rougher it was apparent
that Monsoon would have to give way to
Mischief on the close hauled work The
latter not only pointed higher, but she
footed faster and turned the mark fully
two minutes ahead.
Leach Gets Wet
AS Whitneys crew was about to set
light sails Monsoon swept around the
mark with her spinaker in stop. Don
Leach went forward to make the sheet
fast and in dong so was thrown over
board, The accident was witnessed from
MISCHIEF, anu neT llBHl SAILS were slowed
away until later. Whitney started to
wear ship to go Monsoon's assistant
but before she came into wind it was
seen that Mischief was too far leeward
to render any aid.
Monsoon al once put about and res
cued Leach, who had removed his cloth
ing for a swim to the shore, a mile and
a half away Mischief continued on the
course. but did not set any light sails
until Monsoon was able to proceed.
Columbine rounded the mark just after
Pugh got squared awey the second time
and the two put up merry race for sec
ond place Mischief picked her way
through the kelp beds and finished nearly
four minutes ahead of Monsoon, which
led Columbine home by nearly a minute
Valkyrle won in the G Glass by more
than half an hour over Volga, local
catboat which beat Serene de Mar over
a minute more.
The eght starters finished as follows:
Mischief 4:34:50; Monsoon 43S:20; Column
bine 4:S9:17; Minerva 4:52:O2; Arrow 4:
$500; and the C class, which went only
once around. Valkyrie S:35:45; Volga
409:10; Serene del Mar 410:22.
While not as easily seen as yesterdays