Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-27
VALKYR|E AND
MERLIN BOTH
WIN IN TRYOUT.
Yachtsmen Prepare
for Catalina Race
Local Distance Event viii Compare
FavorabIy with Great Summer
contests--Numerou Re-
sattas Scheduled
nY IAoK v1vARRTAs

BY JACK VIVARRTAS
In the trying out races betweeE
valkyrie and Merlin yesterday at Sar
Pedro the two twenty-four footers di
vided the honors evenly, each winning
once over the five mile wirdward ant
leeward course.
valkyrie won the first race by one
and three-quarter minutes, and in the
second was beaten by a margin of foul
minutes. The course was from the
black can buoy to Point Firmin ano
return, and the races were sailed II
very light and unsteady winds.
From the performance of Valkyrit
yesterday, 1t is considered almost GER
tain that she will be sent north to com
pete for the San Francisco challenge
cup offered by the Corinthian Yacht
club at San Francisco next August.
The deepwater race of the South
Coast Yacht club around Catalina
island June % will compare favorably
with any of the numerous long-dis-
tance events to be held this summer.
In number of miles only does it rank
less than any OF the contests either or
the great lakes or the Atlantic coast
The distance around Catalina is
course is far more hazardous, and sub
ject to greater risk of heavy weather
and variable winds than many of the
waterways where races are sailed II
comparative shelter.
In fact only one other of tie LONG
races is sailed in open water, the
New York Bermuda race of $50 miles
The courses Of the others are laid
along sheltering coasts, with conven-
lent harbors of refuge where the anna
teur tars may seek safety and comfort
in case Of heavy weather.
The New York-Bermuda race starts
for sailing yachts, June 5, and three
days later the power boats will leave
endeavoring, of course, to overtake
their jib and mainsail brothers ere they
have reached st. George harbor. There
will be separate prizes for the two
classes, the sailing yachts competing
for the Maier cup and the power boats
for trophy presented by Mr.. James
Gordon Bennett.
Macklnac Island Race
Next in order of distance is the 320-
mile race from Chicago to Mackinac
island, along the west shore of Lake
Michigan. 1t is open to any American
sailing yacht of five tons or over, and
there are fully a dozen harbors OF
easy access along the route.
Leaving Chicago July 20, the frs
days run will be to Monitowoc, Wis.
thence across the lake to Traverst
bay, past Sleeping Bear and Manito,
islands, finally along the east shore o
the lower end of Lake Michigan to thu
Straits of Mackinac, and to the OBJ
jective point at the island resort o.
the same name.
This will be the third season for this
race, and fresh water craft of every
description and size are entered.
Also in the third year is the Indian
Harbor-Marblehead event, the longest
on the Atlantic coast, with exception
of the Bermuda race.
Starting from Indian Harbor, Conn.
July 20, the course will lie through
Long Island Sound along the coast past
Point Judith and Block island, thence
over the Nantucket shoals and around
Cape Cod to Marblehead.
At no time is there more than pos
sibly sixty fathoms of water, though
the course Is perhaps the most dan
gerous three-hundred-mile stretch tc
be found on the face of the globe. Not
only are there dangerous shoals or
every hand, but fogs, tides and cross
currents, to say nothing of the numer-
Gus squalls for which this section OF
the coast is noted, contribute to make
an exceedingly difficult test of good
seamanship.
Other long races scheduled for this
season are the Huguenot, Y. c. 15C
knots, Toledo to Pressure Isle, 213 miles
and Oshkosh to Oconomowoc, 100 miles
The greatest of the internationa
races this year will be the contest fol
the Emperor William cup at Kiel, Ger
many. This race is not open to the
yachts Of all nations, only German anC
American boats, and not exceeding
three from each nation, built expressly
for these races, being allowed to enter
Restrictions Imposed
The American boats will be chosen
after series of trial races to be helC
off Marblehead. Mass, beginning June
amateur yachtmen, all of whom must
be citizens of the United States, an,
members of the club to which theil
yacht belongs.
Remarkable restrictions are imposed
on the building and equipping of the
competing boats, for the cost must
not exceed $2,400, the water line length
not more than 32 feet and the sail area
is limited to $50 square feet.
The yachts are required to be built
of cedar, mohogany or heavier woods
copper fastened, and must not be
double planked. No center or lee
boards are allowed, nor can hollow
spars be used. Each yacht must carry
but one complete suit of racing sails.
All entries will proceed to Kiel un-
der their own sails, and must not stoE
nor haul out at any country en- route
except to repair damage.
The course will be alternately trian-
gular and windward, leeward.
Five races will be sailed, the cup tt
be awarded to the owner of the yacht
first winning three races, or the win.
ner of the fifth.
In case the first four races have moi
resulted in a decision, only winners o1
the four races sailed will be allowed
4