Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-15


Capt. Warren Wood, in his fleet Mer-
rily captured both the doy races this
afternoon, beating Little Mischief IL
by one minute and fifty-three seconds
in the first race and fifteen seconds in
the second event. Blue Fin, the third
boat, was not serious competitor.
The initial races in the winter series
of contests between the handsome 81
foot dories of the South Coast Yacht
club were very exciting, although
sailed under unpleasant weather con-
ditions. Strong and squally winds.
heavy seas and drenching rain were
the features of the afternoon. The
jack tars were dressed in oil skins and
worked the boats with both jib and
mainsail reefed, but even with this
precaution the dories narrowly escaped
capsizlng in the second race, when in
free run before the heavy breeze
the Blue Fin swung back and forth
like a pendulum, her boom striking
the water with every gyration.
The regatta committee, composed of
Stewart Laughlin, C. e. w. Hubbell
and c. J. Goodenow, had a wet time OF
1t. In the open launch belonging to
the yacht club they followed the races
and managed to keep wet most of the
time.
With a preparatory gun at 1:25 p. m,
the starting gun was fired at 1:30. Blue
Fin crossed first, followed closely by
Little Mischief ii and Merrily.
The course was a triangular one. the
first leg being a reach to a flag near
the curve Of the government break
water. The flag was rounded in the
following order: Merrily, 1:39:30; Little
Mischief II, 1:39:35; Blue Fin, 1:39:5i.
In the free run to the bell buoy Mer-
rily increased her lead, rounding at
1895, followed by Little Mischief ii
at 1:49:37 and Blue Fin at 1:49:41.
In the beat to windward back to the
starting point Folsom took the inshore.
while the other two held out. Wood
kept his lead, and after a series Of
tacks finished at 2:13;35 Folsom
finished at 2:15:2s and Blue Fin at
| 2:19:15.
The boats got away in the second
event in a drenching downpour of rain,
Folsom taking the lead across the line
fourteen seconds after the starting gun
was fired at 2:30. Blue Fin was thirty
seconds behind and Merrily but half
second behind her.
Course Triangular
The course was a short triangle, the
first leg taking the boats on free run
to the black entrance buoy. At this
point the excitement was intense. 1t
looked like a capsize for the Blue Fin
or possibly the others as we'll. Tho
buoy was safely ounded, however, Mis-
chief clearing at 2:34:50, Merrily at
2.35:01 and Blue Fin at 2:35:05. Fast
time was made on the second leg.
which was to the beakwater flag, Fol-
som gaining a second in its lead over
Merrily. rounding at 2:40:l0, Merrily
2:40:22 and Blue Fin 2:40:54.
Folsom kept his lead until nearing
the finishing line. but held off of the
wind and was obliged to tack TO clear
the stake flag. Wood kept closer to
the wind, and thus beat his opponent,
finishing fifteen seconds to the good at
2:54:05, Little Mischief II at 2:54:20 and
Blue Fin bringing up the rear at
2:56:22.
Although a rough day outside, Joe
Fellows, the builder of the dories, had
his fast launch Campbell with party
of women aboard out on the course
and closely followed the races.
Commodore Perry was also an en-
thusiastic witness of the races, being
out in his launch Perrywinkle.
Next Sunday two more races will be
sailed in addition to two events every
other Sunday afternoon.