The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-10-18

race between two small boats. evel
seen in this harbor, the Pearl, splendid
~ sailed by Bill Lyle, handed it to
the sea-wren Galloping Mary by TWEEN
ty-eight seconds yesterday afternoon.
The result was in doubt up to the
very end of the race. The wren was
outpointing but not outfooting the Pearl
in the beat up the harbor, but was
gaining on every tack and it seemed
possible that she might make it and
cross the line few inches in the lead.
But Bill Lyle was not out for anything
of the sort and, by clever seamanship
put about in just the right time and
crossed the line several lengths ahead,
with the wren to leeward and Just able
to make it without lacking.
Before the wind both boats were so
nearly even that there was nothing to
choose between them. On fair reach
the Pearl had very much the better
of it while. on the beat to windward,
the wren was a triie the better of the
two.
An Even Start.
The start was made on time Ken
meth Brown stood on the deck of the
Kamehameha and waved a flag for the
first gun. Two minutes later he re-
peated the signal and both boats cross
ed the line together. The wren was
to windward and took the lead Out
to the spar buoy the wind was almost
dead aft with slight preference for
the port quarter.
Bill Lyle luffed up just enough to
take some of the wren's wind and be-
gan to make up on the latter. There
were a few luffing matches but the
Pearl had very much the better Of
these, as her jih enabled her to fall
away much more quickly than the wren.
So the latter gave it up and steered
a straight course for the spar buoy.
short distance from the spar buoy
the Pearl overlapped the wren and
luffed round the mark in the lead
prising manner The wren had her
tiller hard aweather to keep her off
the wind and, even with the center
board nearly all the way up, had
hard time Of it.
But the Pearl had her iib to keep
the strain off the rudder and rounded
the bell buoy more than half min
ute in the lead. From this mark back
TO the spar buoy was another fair reach
and the Pearl continued to gain.
Wren Begins to Gain.
When she hauled close for the beat
up the harbor she was nearly a minute
in the lead and it looked hopeless for
the wren. But then conditions were
changed. The Pearl was kept going all
the time and outfooted the wren. The
latter tried to foot with the fat-bot-
toned boat, but could not do it and
SO began to point. This was more sue
cessful and, with one or two lucky
puffs of wind 20 aid her, began to creep
up on her gallant opponent.
Off the Myrtle boathouse, where the
lanai was crowded with interested spec
tators, it looked as though the wren
had a chance. The wren split tacks
and passed only a short way astern
of the Pearl, but she was on the wrong
tack and, when the Pearl next went
about, she was able to head straight for
the line while the wren had to make
another short leg to windward.
There was good breeze for the fin
ish and both little craft made good
speed as they crossed the line It was
a pretty sight. Both boats were heel
ing well to steady breeze and seem
ed to be going through the water at
a great speed.
The breeze was fairly fresh through
out the course. 1t was stronger, but
more ftful in the harbor while steadier,
though with less weight outside The
Pearl had only Bill Lyle and Luther
about five hundred and fifty poundsg
Hough aboard, while the wren had about
FIVE hundred and fifty pounds of live
ballast aboard.
Worse With Less Ballast.
At the suggestion of the skipper of
the wren, Bill Lyle kindly consented
to go round the course again so that
the other boat could try with less bal
last. Two of the crew were placed
ashore and they started off again This
was an unlucky trial for the wren
She intended to ibe for the start, but
a fresh puff made her huff and go
about, and the Pearl gained almost a
minute at the start.
The less amount of ballast was not
a success. The wren gained rapidly on
the run off the wind, it is true, but
on the reaches she was badly outfooted
and could not make any gain at all
on the beat to windward
The course was covered the third
time for another tryout. This time the
wren tried more ballast than ever. but
the wind fell light The wren was
right up to the Pearl at the bell buoy,
and on going round this mark forced
the Pearl, which had gone about toe
soon. to go astern Of her.
This gave the wren a big lead She
put back and started to leeward of
the Pearl again. but the latter kicked
up her heels and gained from then
until the finish.
Peari the Speedier.
Taking 1t all round. the Pearl seems
tn be the speedier boat Especially off
tte wind she has an immense advan-
tage in having a lib that keeps her
tiller nearly amidships. The wrens
have barndoor rudder that is most
" out of the water The Pearl has
kind of balance rudder that goes deem