Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-05
BY JACK vIvARTrAs

n n ISCHIEF II, Columbine (class b,
V Venus, Merlin (class O., Myth
Portola (class d. is the order In
which the fleet of singlestickers crossed
the finish line at San Pedro yesterday.
Mischief II sailed grand race, win
ming the Times cup, and led Columbine
to the first turn with 16 minutes TO
spare, after two hours of hard wind
ward work Second only to the nlagni-
f1cent sailing of Mischief. was the grand
performance of Venus, which finished
over half an hour ahead of her class.
Yesterdays race proved beyond
doubt that neither Columbine nor Mon
soon Is q match for Folsom's boat at
thrashing to windward in a stiff breeze:
After a close start she took the lead
and steadily increased 1t all the way
to Vincente.
Through a series of mishaps Detroit
and Yankee were unaDle to start, ana
when the gun was fired Monsoon was
SO far to leeward that 1t required fully
a quarter of an hour to beat up to the
line. At the last moment Katrina en-
tered, but was easily outsailed by We
nus and Merlin.
Without q cloud in the sky and fair
working breeze early in the morning,
a great days racing was promised:
Shortly after breakfast time the wind
died out, but slight breeze that hung
close to the water was considered by
the weather-Wise to mean that there
would be wind a-plenty later on. NOT
were they disappointed, for In the mid
die Of the forenoon strong southwest
wind began to blow
BY the time the judges boat, with
the regatta committee, two representa-.
tiyes of the San Pedro chamber Of
commerce-S. M. Storer and w. f.
Bickenbaugh-and the press represen-
tatives aboard left the float at the
club house there was a twenty Knot
breeze off Point Firmin.
Outside Of the breakwater Detroit
was passed, behaving very badly with
her new suit of sails and recently fitted
fin keel. The wind had kicked up a
lumpy sea and Captain Dodge expert
enced considerable trouble In putting
Detroit about. To add to his discom-
flture she was leaking badly along the
top sides and the skipper was finally
forced to retire.
AS the whistling buoy was reached
the preparatory gun for the and u
classes was fred, finding all but Katri-
ma beating up for quick start. Venus
lay a little to windward of the others,
while Merlin went about and stood Tor
the line on the starboard tack. Myth
and Portola were content with snort
beat shoreward, but Venus luffed
sharply to prevent false start. Merlin
was not SO fortunate and got across TOO
soon, having to go about around the
whistler within two monutes pefore
the gun.
She handled nicely, however, and
luffed UP to the line in time to follow
Venus across the line, Portola and
Myth getting away shortly after. AS
the smaller boats started Merlin went
about for short tack. but Venus stood
we'll inshore and had little trouble IN
outpointing the others.
When the preparatory gun for the
A and B classes was fired 1t was seen
that only Mischief and Columbine
would get within hailing distance OF the
line in time to start. A quarter OF g.
mile to leeward, Yankee carried away
her bobstay and had to take In her
jib, Skipper Densham at once retlrlrg
from the race. Monsoon was so far 10
leeward as to be scarcely d1scernlple,
much to the disappointment of Folsom
and Mitchell, who were desirous of
testing the heavy weather qualities OF
the Gardener designed craft.
With two minutes to spare Misch1er
tackled off shore and Columbine stood
for the whistler on the starboard tack
Folsom apparently had measured the
distance carefully, going about just In
time to reach the line. Mischief crossed
Columbine's bow just as the latter
went about, or tried to, for she missed
and hung in irons until forced to aban-
don the port tack and making consider
able leeway. They crossed the line with
Mischief only half a length in the lead
and stood in shore for few minutes.
Mischief was first about, showing that
the older boat was in her element,
carrying whole mainsail which heeled
her over until the lee scuppers were
awash. Columblne, a few lengths
astern, staggered along under a single
reef, making very little headway. as
she was buffeted by the heavy seas.
Down to the cockpit rail she went,
wetting Fritz Whitney's feet and
drenching the crew with huge clouds
of spray
After standing off shore few min
utes Folsom smelled smoother water
along the beach. and went about under
Columbine's stern. For a moment 1t
looked as If Mischief had lost her lead,
but after her sails filled she easily left