The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-31
US. SCHOONER FIRST
TO CROSS THE LINE
Continued from First Pd0s.

SO no great going was showing. We
were both making perhaps nine knots
for the irst twenty minutes. Then Wa
began to get little more OF IL. and
after we got by a headland which we
had TO pass with not much TO spare
we being between the Lunenburger and
the rocks all the time--the wind cams
with more teeth In It, and when II did
the Gloucester lady began to show her
qualify.
We trieo for the windward position
from the first. and thrty-hve minutes
from the start. still holding the wind
ward berth. we were abreast Of the
Delawanna.
Wind at 90 Miles an Hour.
Little signs before this had led US to
expect that happening. and while we
were pleased with the crew under the
windward rail joking like young boys
we were not saying too much. 1t was
not until we had covered eight miles
OF the course and we had her tucked
under our lee quarter that the men
began to ease Off and talk.
The wind was then blowing about
twenty miles an hour. and the more
wind the more fun. The Lunenburgers
had said last night when their fellows
and ours got together as they did at
two or three informal meetings ashore
1.-THE more wind the more fun"
PLENTY wind--that will suit US. too"
our men had replied
SO everybody should have been at
least feeling pleased when the squalls
began to whip white across the water
and come whistling aboard. Twenty Or
twenty-five miles. say, Is long way
short of a gale, but with topsails and
balloon and staysails some lively action
is to be got out OF it. I'VE had been
down to our scuppers amidships almost
from the start. but now the water was
coming In through our scupper on the
after quarter When the good squalls
hit us we were going down to our rail
almost. and our men had to get talking
then.
ooh, you angel squalls come on, you
angel squalls!" they yelled, because it
was to the music OF the angel squalls
that we were forging ahead. With every
squall She seemed to go on with an
other forward leap. "Come on. you girl;
come on. you Esperanto; show your
self ~ and slam on the hard deck would
go some fsherman's bare hand.
"Its all over on the reach, boys: get
ready now and show her running"
SO they talked and failed not to take
notice of the great crowds of people on
the bluffs to the westward.
IHey certainly ilau IL tight .WuSH
they said these high spots were great
places to see this race FROM" said one.
eyes, but the further we leave those
highland places the more 1 notice we
are seeking it to the Delawana," said
another.
So 1t was we reached out to more
open water--beautiful blue water with
a kick of life in it--and above was the
sky all clear, and the wind was kindlirg
TO our blood as on to that first mark
we went. 1t was great racing, the two
vessels almost side by side for those
first few miles, and then the Esperanto
walking out in front like the lady she
was
Difference I'm the SaiIcrs.
The Delawanna was standing up. fine
stiff vessel, but she wasn't bounding to
1t as we were. We legged twelve knots
for all of that last half to the first
buoy, and what she would do if ever she
got wind enough TO get that lee raj
under and keep It there--'maybe let 1t
jump OUT There were some wild
guesses now and again about that.
The white stuff was wbishing-whish-
ing past our quarter. and more white
stuff coming in fine waterfalls over our
lee boat, but never In the Judgment OF
the crew WINS there drier vessel But |
for all her dryness Capt. John Mathison, |
our mate was passing the word for those |
who had not done so already to get into