S2 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
tJULV II, 1903. 
New York Y. C. 90-Footers. 
' NEWPORT, E. I., 
First Race, Moxiday, Jane 29, 
The first race for the go-footers off this port, which 
was the first of a series of six arranged by the regatta 
committee of the New York Y. C, was sailed to-day in 
a fresh easterly breeze and a choppy sea. Before the 
yachts left Newport harbor it was announced at the club 
station that the first prize for the series was offered by 
former Commodore Lewis Cass Ledyard, and that Rear 
Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt would give the second 
prize. It was expected that this series would be of more 
than ordinary interest, and a large fleet of steam yachts 
and several of the larger sailing yachts started out of the 
harbor with the raciug trio. The regatta committee, 
Messrs. S. Nicholson Kane, Newbury D. Lawton, and 
Edward H. Wales, accepted the invitation of Col. R. M. 
Thompson to sail on the steamer Riviera, and that yacht 
was the committee boat during the week. 
When the Riviera got outside it was foimd that a wind- 
ward and leeward course could not be laid from the Bren- 
ton's Reef Lightship, and so the signal E was set, mean- 
ing that the starting line would be shifted. The Riviera 
steamed about five miles S. W. of tlie Lightship and made 
the line about three miles E. of Point Judith. The course 
was E. and the distance 15 miles and return. The yachts 
had medium sized club topsails aloft, and when the pre- 
paratory signal was made at noon they began to maneuver 
for the start. The wind then was blowing about 18 miles 
fin hour, and in sailing about they heeled much more than 
they have in any former races this year. Reliance and 
Constitution at times when the wind was abeam showed 
four strakes of bronze of their underbodies. When the 
starting signal was made at 12:15, Constitution was head- 
ing for the line from the S. She had been a little too 
scon and had to range along the line to the N. Reliance 
was on her weather quarter, and Columbia was astern, 
but to windward of both. They were on the starboard 
tack and Constitution crossed at 12:15:20, the Reliance 
at 12:15:24, and Columbia at 12:15:26. As soon as she 
was over the Constitution made a sharp luff and then bore 
away under the lee bow of Reliance, giving that yacht a 
back draught, so that Capt. Barr put the Reliance on the 
port tack; Columbia was still holding on to the starboard 
tack, and as the two yachts came together Mr. Morgan 
was forced to bear away sharply in order to avoid a foul. 
Reliance at once took the starboard tack and Columbia 
tacked to get her Avind clear. She held the port tack for 
about three minutes and then she took the starboard tack, 
and all three were standing in tovyard the north shore. 
The tide was running to the west, and they were taking 
tlie seas on the weather bow. Constitution wns carrying 
a mainsail she used in her races in igor. It was a good 
looking piece of canvas, but the draught was not in the 
right place. Her gaff slacked off and she could not point 
witli the other two. The yachts held this starboard tack 
tmtil 12 :35, and then Constitution took the port tack and 
Reliance followed her at once. By this time Reliance had 
Iciken a commanding lead, and she crossed the bow of 
Columbia with plenty to spare, but Constitution had fallen 
so far to leeward that she went astern of the older boat. 
Columbia held on until she was well to windward of the 
wake of Reliance, and at 12 :38 she took the port tack, and 
all three were then heading S. E. Constitution took the 
starboard tack at 12:41:30, and headed in toward the 
shore again. Reliance followed at 12:46 and Columbia 
again to windward of all at 12 :47. Each yacht held the 
inshore tack for exactly ten minutes, and then all came 
off shore again. They held the port tack for about half 
an hour, and in that time Reliance worked out to wind- 
ward of Columbia and across that yacht's bow. Columbia 
took the starboard tack at i :25, Reliance tacked a minute 
later, and Constitution, which was far astern, tacked at 
1 :26 :4s. They were then drawing in toward the mouth 
of the Sakonnet River and getting a fresher breeze, so 
that they heeled much more than at any time so far dur- 
ing the race. Columbia and Reliance held well in toward 
West Island Light and at 1:43:15 Reliance took the port 
tack and almost a minute later Columbia followed. Con- 
,stitution did not go in so far and tacked at T :44:3T. 
Columbia and Reliance had to bear off a point in order to 
qJear Sakonnet Point, and then were able to lay their 
course for the turning mark. Columbia had overstood a 
little more than Reliance, and Constitution, which was 
considerably fo leeward of the other two, was able to 
fetch easily. 
Passing Sakonnet Point the Reliance led Columbia by 
about a minute and a half and from there to the turning 
mark she rapidly increased her lead. They wore and 
gybed at the mark. Reliance heeled considerably and 
shot several lengths before Capt. Barr was able to ease off 
for the run home. Columbia turned like a catboat, swing- 
ing round as though she was on a pivot, and Constitution 
was even harder to handle than Reliance, and she made a 
much wider turn. The times at this mark and the 
elapsed times over the fifteen mile turn to windward are 
shown in the following: 
Start. Turn. Elapsed. 
Reliance 12 15 24 2 OS 35 1 53 11 
Columbia 12 15 26 2 10 31 1 55 05 
Con&titntion .: 12 15 20 2 12 02 1 56 42 
On this leg Reliance had beaten Columbia im. 54s., and 
Constitution 3m. 31s. Columbia had beaten Constitution 
im. 37s. 
Spinnaker poles' were lowered to starboard. Reliance 
broke her spinnaker out at 2:10:40, Columbia at 2:13:41, 
and Constitution at 2:14:45. Then the balloon jib top- 
sails were sent up and broken out. On Reliance this big 
sail was flowed at 2:14:20, and the men on Columbia 
broke that yacht's balloon out at the same time. The bal- 
loon on Constitution was broken out at 2:19:20. This 
shows that the crew of Columbia handled the light sails 
much smarter than on either of the other yachts. The 
run down the wind was a fast one, in spite of the fact that 
ail three yachts rolled considerably in the sea. Constitu- 
tion closed up somewhat on Columbia, but could not pass 
that yacht. Reliance, as was expected, ran away from 
both of the others, and she crossed the finishing line at 
3:25:17. Columbia crossed at 3:29:28, and Constitution 
at 3:30:11. Several watches on other boats ro_ade Con- 
stitution's time a minute later than the committee. The 
elapsed times over the last leg of the course were; 
,. Turn. Finish. Elapsed. 
Rey^n^e .2 08 35 3 25 17 1 16 42 
Columbia 2 10 31 3 29 28 1 18 5f 
Constitution ......2 12 02 3 30 11 1 18 09 
On the fifteen-mile run the Reliance had beaten Consti- 
tution im. 27s. and Columbia 2m. 155. Constitution had 
beaten Columbia 48s. Reliance had averaged 11.7 miles 
an hour on the run home. The summary : 
^ Start. Finish. Elapsed. 
Reliance 12 15 24 3 25 17 3 09 53 
Columbia..... 12 15 26 8 29 28 3 14 02 
Constitution 12 15 20 3 30 11 3 14 51 
Reliance had beaten the Columbia 4m. 9s. elapsed time 
and Constitution 4m. 58s. Columbia wins second prize. 
She beat Constitution 49s. elapsed time. 
Second Race» Tuesday* June 30, 
The three yachts were out on time on Tuesday. Consti- 
tution had bent on another mainsail and all three had in- 
termediate club topsails aloft. The wind was from the 
S. W., and was blowing about 12 miles an hour. It Was 
almost high water at the Lightship when the starting gun 
sounded, and the tide was soon running to the E. There 
was a short choppy sea in which Constitution seemed to 
suffer most. The regatta committee on Riviera signalled 
the course, fifteen miles to windward and return, and then 
the compass course, S. W. The tugboat Unique logged 
the course. Fifteen miles S. W. from the Lightship would 
end on Block Island, so that the course was really a mile 
short. The preparatory signal sounded at 11:30 o'clock, 
and the starting gun fifteen minutes later. There was not 
much fighting for position at the start. The three yachts 
were to the W. of the Lightship when the gun sounded. 
Reliance crossed at 11:45:06 on the starboard tack. Co- 
lumbia was on her weather quarter and crossed at 
11:45:09, and Constitution ranged along the line to the 
committee boat end and crossed at 11 ;46:oi, and then she 
took the port tack as she went over and Reliance and 
Columbia tacked at the same time. All were then head- 
ing in toward the Narragansett shore to get smooth water 
and the freshening puffs that always draw off that beach. 
Constitution at once dropped down to leeward, and she 
was the first to take the starboard tack, her time being 
12:02:25. Columbia tacked five minutes later and Reliance 
ten seconds after Columbia. Columbia was very close to 
Reliance and Reliance had been forced to tack when she 
did. Only a short hitch of two minutes was made and 
then Columbia and Constitution stood in toward the shore 
again and Reliance followed thirty seconds after Colum- 
bia. She made a sharp luff while the crew got sheets 
down flat, and then Reliance and Columbia had a battle 
that was worth going miles to see. At 12 :o5 :25 Colum- 
bia and Constitution took the starboard tack and stood 
off shore. Reliance was on the port tack and Columbia 
drew up so close to the new boat that she was forced to 
give way and Columbia, getting a back wind from Re- 
liance, split tacks with her again and stood in shore. Re- 
liance followed the old boat in at 12:08:14, and a few 
seconds later Columbia took the starboard tack, standing 
off, and at 12 :og :30 forced Reliance about again, and as 
Reliance took the starboard tack Columbia took the port 
tack, standing in shore again. Again Reliance went after 
her, and as the new boat tacked in shore the old boat 
stood out, and at 12:12 Columbia forced Reliance about 
for the third time, and both split tacks again. Reliance 
standing off shore and Columbia in shore. Constitution 
was not able to look where the other two did, and was 
being left astern. In less than half a minute after Re- 
liance was forced, Columbia was after her again, and at 
12:13:15 Reliance was forced to give way for the fourth 
lime. They came together at 12:14:30, and this time Re- 
liance managed to pinch across Columbia's bow and had 
her wind clear. It had taken the new yacht about half an 
hour to shake off the older boat. The yachts continued 
to work along the shore in short tacks, and Reliance 
passed Point Judith at 12 :30. She made a port tack 
when clear of the point, and then took the starboard tack 
and was on top of the Whistling Buoy at 12 :37. The 
tide was then running to the E., and the yachts had it on 
their bow. There was more wind outside than there had 
been under the shore, and Reliance changed her small jib 
topsail for a still smaller one. When she had shaken off 
Columbia, the new yacht gave a remarkable exhibition of 
sailing, and rapidly left Columbia astern. Constitution 
was still going to leeward, and when clear of the Point 
Capt. Rhodes gave her a full to let her foot, but she 
would not foot any faster than Columbia. At i :26 Re- 
liance took the port tack to fetch the mark. Capt. Barr 
had to pinch to succeed in his object, and Columbia and 
Constitution, Avhich had tacked with Reliance, each had 
to make a short hitch. Reliance bore off at the mark at 
1 :34. She eased her boom off to port for the run home. 
Columbia turned the mark at 1:38:20, and Constitution 
at I ;39 :54. The elapsed times over the fifteen-mile turn to 
windward were : 
Start. Turn. Elapsed. 
Rbliance 11 45 06 1 34 00 1 48 54 
Columbia 11 45 09 1 38 20 1 63 11 
Constitution 11 46 01 1 39 54 1 53 53 
Reliance had beaten Columbia 4m. 17s. and Constitution 
4m. S9s. Columbia had beaten Constitution 42s. 
Spinnaker poles were lowered to starboard. Reliance 
had her spinnaker drawing 2m. 50s. after rounding, Co- 
lumbia in im. 25s., and Constitution in im. 38s. In setting 
balloon jib topsails, Columbia's men were again the 
smartest. It took them 5m. 17s. after rounding to get that 
sail up in stops and broken out. The crew of Reliance 
took 6m. 25s., and the crew of Constitution 5m. 26s. The 
yachts rolled much more than they did on the first day, 
and booms had to be lifted. Reliance used a smaller spin- 
naker than the other two, and it was kept full better than 
the larger sails. Constitution's spinnaker was frequently 
hanging limp without any wind in it at all. Reliance drew 
away from the other two very easily, and Constitution 
closed up on Columbia, so that on passing the Whistling 
Buoy off Point Judith the two were almost on even terms, 
but after that Columbia stuck to Constitution, and at the 
finishing line Constitution was only seven seconds ahead 
of the older boat. Reliance crossed the line at 3:00:44, 
Constiution at 3:08:41, and Columbia at 3:p8:*|8, The 
times for the vm home are as follows ; ' 
t,^,.. Tutu. Finish. Elapsed. 
Rfehatiee . . > ., d §4 00 3 00 44 1 gB 44 
Cottstmition 39 54 3 08 41 1 28 47 
Columbia 3g 20 3 08 48 1 30 ^8 
Reliance had beaten Constitution 2m. 3c. and the Co-j 
kmbia 3rt. 448. Conbtitution had beaten the Columbia 
iin. 41S. The summary: 
„ ,. Start. Finish. Elapsed. 
]?eliance 11 45 06 3 00 44 3 15 38 
Constitution 11 46 01 3 08 41 3 22 40 
Columbia 11 45 09 3 08 48 3 23 39 
Reliance beat Constitution 7m. 2s. elapsed time and , 
Columbia 8ra. is. Constitution beat Columbia 59s. elapsed ; 
time, but she won second prize on corrected time. ^ 
It was thought that Reliance had made a new record •■ 
for fifteen miles to windward, but the fact that the eoufse ' 
was short knocks this out. | 
Third Race, Wednesday, July it 
Sir Thpmas Linton,^ Designer William Fife and Cap- 
tains Wringe and Bevis arfived early in the nlorning on ' 
the steam yacht Erin to watch the yacht race, Constitu- ' 
tioh ran up to Bristol early in the nlorning to get another 
mainsail, the third uSed in the week, and she was not on ji 
hand when the yachts left the harbor, but as she expected i 
to get back in time to race, the start was postponed. Re- 1 
liance and Columbia sailed out of the harbor with the ( 
same club topsails aloft that had been used in the former .1 
races, and when near the Brenton's Reef Lightship, the 
committee signalled that the starting line would be shifted 
and steamed off to the E. The line was made about 4 
miles E. of the Lightship, and about 3 miles S. of Ochr- 
Point. There was a long wait and about 12 :30 o'clock 
Constitution was sighted. Then the course was signalled ' 
S. W. by W. IS miles. It was 15 miles to windward and ' 
r_eturn._ The preparatory signal was made at I o'clock. 
1 he wind was then blowing about 12 miles an hour, but it , 
freshened considerably later on. The maneuvering at the " 
start was tame. Constitution crossed the line first on the 
starboard tack at 1:15:15. Reliance crossed on the port 
tack at I :i6:i2, and Columbia waited until the end of the 
Uvo minutes and was timed at i :i7. She was on the star- 
board tack. Constitution took the port tack as Reliance 
crossed, but both yachts went back on the starboard tack ' 
as Columbia went over. Five minutes later all took the 
port tack and held in toward the Narragansett shore; 
Constitution was leading and was on the weather bow of 
Reliance, and Columbia was astern, but was to windward 
of the wakes of the other two yachts. There was quite 
a jump on the sea and a thick haze hung over the water 
through which the sun was trying to shine. At 2:49:^5 
Constitution took a hitch to the E., and after crossing 
Columbia took the port tack again. Reliance took the 
starboard tack at 1:54:20. She crossed Constitution's 
bow at 1 :56, and some seconds later took the port tack 
again. The yachts worked along the shore as on the 
former day, and then, after pas^sing Point Judith, they 
still made short tacks out to the weather mark. When 
clear of the shore, Columbia took in her baby jib topsail 
and sailed for about five miles without any sail above her 
jib. She stuck to Constitution and closed up on that 
yacht considerably, but could not quite get by. The tUfii- 
ing mark was under the Block Island shore, and to*gct 
there Reliance made eleven tacks, Columbia fourteen and 
Constitution twenty. Reliance turned the mark at 
3 :09:35, Constitution at 3:12:43. and Columbia at 3:13:07, 
Columbia was right on top of Constitution at the mark, 
and made a much sharper turn, but in doing so she verv 
nearly ran Constitution down, and in keeping off heV 
boom struck the cOne on top of the mark and smashed it. 
The times of the first leg of the course are : 
r, ,. Start. Turn. Elapsed. 
Reliance 1 16 12 3 09 35 1 53 28 
Columbia 1 17 00 3 13 07 1 56 07 
Constitution 1 15 15 3 12 43 1 57 28 
On this leg Reliance had beaten the Columbia 2m. 14s. 
and Constitution 4m. 5s. Columbia had beaten Constitu- 
tion im. 2is. 
Sheets were eased off to starboard for the run home, 
and the spinnakers were set to port, Columbia had sent 
up a balloon jib topsail before reaching the mark, and this 
was broken out as soon as she turned. Reliance's spin- 
naker was out and drawing 2m. 25s. after turning. On 
the Constitution it took 2m. 47s. to get the big sail broken 
out, and on the Columbia it took 4m. 23s. The balloou 
jib topsail was broken out on Reliance 8m. los. after turn- 
ing the mark, and on Constitution it was gm. 17s. after 
turning. The run home was a very fast one. Rehance 
drew away from Constitution as usual, and Columbia was ' 
left by Constitution.- Reliance crossed the finishing line 
at 4:20:39, Constitution at 4:24:12, and Columbia at 
4:27:16. The elapsed times over the last leg of the course 
and the gains are shown as follows: 
^ ,. Turn. Firlish. Elapsed. 
Reliance 3 09 35 4 20 39 1 11 04 
Constitution .3 13 43 4 24 12 1 12 29 
Columbia , 3 IS 07 4 27 16 1 14 09' 
Reliance had beaten Constitution im. 25s. and Columbia 
3m. 5s. Constitution had beaten the Columbia im. .40s. 
Off the wind Reliance had averaged 12.67 miles an hour 
or a mile in 4m. 45s. The summary: 
Start. Finish. Elapsed. 
Reliance 1 16 12 4 20 39 3 04 27 
Constitution 1 15 15 4 25 12 S 09 57 
Columbia 1 17 00 4 27 16 3 10 ]6 
Reliance had beaten Constitution 5m, 30s. and Columbia 
5m. 49s. Constitution beat Columbia 19s. elapsed time 
and Columbia wins the second prize on corrected time. 
After the race had ended Erin started back for Sandy 
Hook. Mr. Iselin, when he got back to the harbor, said ' 
that he did not care for any more races at present, and 
that he was satisfied with the Reliance, but he was in- 
duced to make one more start the next day. 
Fourth Race, Thursday, July 2, 
There was a strong wind and a big sea when the yachts 1 
left the harbor. They had set small club topsails. The ' 
strafing line was at the same place as on the previous 
day, and when the yachts got there the wind had in- 
creased in strength so that it was blowing at least 25 i 
miles an hour. The club topsails were sent down just be- i 
fore the preparatory signal was made. The course was 
triangular. The wind was S. W. by W., and the first leg ,, 
of the course was lo miles, S. W. by W. ; the second le^ ' 
I 
