Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23
YACHTSMEN ARE
AWAY ON RACE
~ AROUND ISLAND
Merry Breeze Blows
Outside
Pride Of the South Coast Fleet Sails
Away Across the Blue Channel
Seeking Cups and Glory
BY JACK VIVARTTAS

Special to The Herald.
WITH THE RACERS, OFF THE
BREAKWATER, June 22.-With fair
wind, fair weather and, above ALL fair
chances of winning the cup, four boats
of the South Coast Yacht clubs fleet
crossed the line today at noon for the
annual cruise around Catalina island.
These four boats-Monsoon, Mischief.
Arrow and Minerva-crossed the start
ing line at IL o'clock or within five
minutes thereafter and the biggest race
of the year in local waters was on.
Aboard the Monsoon the crew was
called to the deck early by Captain
Pugh and the sails were shaken out
and everything made ready for the
long voyage around the island. AS the
ocean goes, eightyfive miles must be
sailed over before the home mooringS
are reached once more, and this means
that the boats will in all probability
be in some time tomorrow afternoon.
At least the winner should.
AS the preparatory gun sounded at
noon Monsoon and Mischief went
about and stood to windward of the
line, where Minerva was impatiently
jockeying, her crew eager to cross
Arrow was close by All got away
with their sails tapping in the in
shore breeze and not until the break
water had been cleared was there
freshening breeze.
Scene of Great Animation
The scene preparatory to the start
of the race was one to please all true
yachtsmen, of Southern California.
Tugs and launches by the score were
in and about the racers as they lay
in waiting for the gun to boom and
on the club house veranda hundreds of
eager persons held their field glasses to
alert eyes for a glimpse of the yachts
as they lay at anchor or cruised about
the bay.
All over the bay the white sails of
nearly every boat on the clubs roster
that was not in the race flashed here
and there in the bright sun. The in
terest displayed was intense, and
cheers and calls to friends resounded
over the water in ever-reverberating
strains.
The Arrow is the crack boat of the
fleet, allowing Minerva many minutes
on the Catalina course of S5 miles. The
Arrow is a new boat this year, built
by Fellows at Terminal for Francis
Hay. She is the best manned boat in
the racing fleet, having besides Vice
Commodore 1-cbeler at the helm, Com
modore Stewart for first mate. Skip
per Densham Of the Yankee and E. K.
Earle.
The real interest in the race, centers
about the two yawls, for besides the
regular prize there is private wager
between Captain Hebeler and Hay.
They SpIiced the Main Brace
Mischief II, many times victor, and
] -onsoon, winner of l@st years ocean
race, represent the single stickers of
the club, and with good sailing weather
will have to go some to finish before
the yawls.
CAPTAIN Folsom of Mischief II has
skipped Joe Fellows and Cal Foy for
this cruise, and Monsoon will be sailed
by Captain Pugh with the following
crew: B. V. regory, f. ]. Whitney, j.
]. Blick. r. H. Cartu and several others
for live ballast.
Besides her yawl rig. Arrow has a
gasoline engine, making her comfort
able auxiliary cruiser for all weathers.
In the race today she will use only sail
power, her propeller having been un-
shipped last night, which will permit
her to sail freer. Captain Hay sails
her himself and has shipped the follow
ing crew: Bert Cashbridge, Wilbur
Bassett and c. E. w. Hubbell.
Minerva, commanded by Captain
Hebeler, was bilt three years ago by
Fellows, and has proved equal to any
emergency in all kinds of weather.
freshening breeze from almost due
west. the sun rose this morning and
found most of the jolly tars already
astir. After the heavy shower last
night there were sails to be dried, hal
yards and sheets to be stretched and a
hundred other details to be arranged |
before the starting hour. The'regatta
committee on the launch Pasqualito |
made an early inspection trip and found |
everything satisfactory. UP to late
hour it was rumored that the Column
bine would start, but Captain Mitchell |
concluded at the last moment that he |
would not enter his big sIoop.
Aboard Minerva all hands were mus |
tered in the cabin at 10 o'clock to sign |
articles and conjure a fair breeze for |
ME trip.
\ The main brace was spliced with all |
he ceremony, and all hands were as
signed their respective places.
All light sails had been stopped, the |
dinehey taken aboard on the s'arboard |
side and properly made fast, when at
II O'Clock the Minerals anchor was
weighed for try-out spin in the inner
harbor. Down to leeward the Arrow
slipped along easily in the light breeze.
with Monsoon and Mischief III. The
wind. which proved tickle during the
forenoon, showed signs of freshening
up, and with rising barometer the
prospects of a good race were materi-
ally increased.
At noon the sky was cleal and fair
breeze mae itself felt, and everything
was we'll for t., start of the great
event