Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-24

L WOh lIlc ldCO dIOullu
Catalina island for the Montgom-
cry cup. Snatching victory from what
seemed almost certain defeat, in the
last half mile of 21-hour contest, the
crack Gardiner designed sloop slipped
past Michief II, and finished over half
minute ahead.
Michief II had led the way over the
whole course, about 120 miles when the
windWard work is considered, only to
be beaten in the last quarter of an
hour.
For the yawls, Minerva led Arrow
home by nearly two hours, after a race
in which the latest Fellows product
never had a chance.
Twas grand race, and from the
start off the government breakwater in
San Pedro harbor at noon Saturday
until Arrow finished yesterday shortly
before o'clock, there was every sort of
wind and weather to try not only the
sailing qualities of the boats, but also
the seamanship of their respective
crews.
At the starting line the regatta COM
mittee decided that Monsoon crossed
first. closely followed by Mischief, which
had the windward berth, and a minute
later Minerva led Arrow over, with
Within two minutes after starting,
Monsoon attempted a disastrous ex-
pertinent with balloon jib, but find
ing the wind not free enough, soon
abandoned it for her working jib. In
the uncertainty of choice as to head
sails, Monsoon lost considerably to
Mischief, which pointed up far closer
to the wind, at the same time footing
handsomely in old time style.
Minerva Loses on Start
With the yawls, Minerva was de-
prived of a good start by the gun be-
ing fired quite two minutes too soon,
but the delay was easily made up, and
she came across the line with every
thing drawing in the best of shape.
Arrow appeared to be in trouble soon
after the race, and rapidly dropped
astern of the fleet leaving Capt. He
beler's faithful cruiser to compete with
the single stickers.
Before two miles had been covered 1t
was evident that Minerva was gaining
on Monsoon, while neither was dis
tanced very far by Mischief, which
yalter was putting to her very best
pace. The wind veered slightly to the
westward, allowing eased sheets, and
also slackened perceptibly, but Capt.
Pugh of Monsoon elected to hold the
started.
Michief II got next to some stunts
that apparently had been overlooked
at starting, and by 1 o'clock had put
nearly mile between herself and Mon
soon, which worked rather stiffly and
was being steadily overtaken by Mi
nerva, about 200 yards astern and to
windWard.
Arrow Far Astern
Arrow had dropped so far back that
her hull was scarcely discernible above
the increasing ground swell. About
this time Capt. Hay concluded to try
his balloon jib, and succeeded in carry
ing it to advantage all the way across
to the island.
Folsom held his black racer we'll up
toward Avalon, and was first to feel
the dead air in the lee Of the island.
Minerva crept up to Monsoon's s
weather quarter like a starved cat
after a piece of cheese, and Capt. He
berler set his jigger staysail. but find
ing the wind considerably forward of
the beam soon took 1t in.
Fearing to be ignominiously blank
eted by the speedy yawl, Capt. Joe
luffed Monsoon up sharply, forcing Mi
nerva to give way, which cost the lat
ter considerable of her we'll earned ad-
vantage.
Monsoon then set her ballooner but
it did not help her to shake off Minerva
and in a few minutes both sloop and
yawl were hopelessly becalmed.
At 2:14 they had drifted nearly
abreast of Mischief II, which had been
carried close in shore. Half an hour
later Arrow, which had been left some
three or four miles astern, got within
half mile of the becalmed leaders, and
che c11nN1ID1hpd m the 6nl6rnnS.
Fleet in DoIdrums
For two long weary hours the whole
fleet tumbled aimlessly about, the
crews the while trying by every known
expedient to coax even the slightest
steerage way, and muttering choice
about the recreant weather
mixer who had charge of the elements
in that certain part of the Pacific.
Mischief II and Minerva headed in
every direction except straight up and
down, in vain effort to lure even the
slightest zephyr, but Monsoon succeeded
in drifting nearly half a mile ahead.
Several launches from Avalon helped
to relieve the tumbling monotony by
advising all the shippers in town to
"hurry up" and suggesting that If
they would move out to southwark of
the island there would be wind aplenty.
This proved TO be truet Wnen dI 4
o'clock Mischief II, favored by an off
shore draught, stood out past Church
rock, while her less favored sisters
looked enviously after her. She was
nearly hull down, off toward Clemente,
when about forty minutes later Mon
soon gybed over and filled her sail with
the same breeze.
Capt. Pugh had shaken out the reef
while pitching about off Seal rock, and
Monsoon lay down like good dog ana
clawed steadily up to windward, leaving
Minerva and Arrow to the mercy of the
faintest of favoring breezes, which en-
abled the former to gybe over at 5:15,
and for the next hour or so there was
boundless joy in the hearts of her
crew, as the stiff westerly breeze heeled
her over till the lee scuppers were
awash.
BY this time both Mischief II and
Monsoon were but filmy white blotches
on the horizon, the former standing