1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2

at Nynäshamn. Some lay outside the harbour, some in the innerbay, and 50 of the smaller boats lay alongside of a quay speciallybuilt just outside the Club House. In the afternoon all the boats hadtheir pennants hoisted, and the scene presented was a most festiveone, which was heightened by the presence of half-a-dozen steam yachtsat anchor in the harbour.The Reception festivities arranged by the Committee took placeat 8 p. m. at the Bath Hotel, and went off very successfully indeed.THE RACING ON JULY 20.The Olympic Yacht racing began at Nynäs on Saturday, 20 July.It was beautiful weather with a light easterly breeze, the velocityvarying between 3—5 metres. The courses were arranged out tosea, south of Nynäs, the first side of the triangle having to be passedwith a half-wind on a starboard tack, the second close-hauled and thethird with the wind free. The first start, that for the 12-metre class,was made at 11 a. m., after which came the other classes at intervalsof a quarter of an hour.12-Metre class.In the 12-metre class, the order of starting was as follows: Heatherbell,representing Finland; Erna-Signe, Sweden, and Magda, Norway.The start was a good one, and the Swedish boat lying best to windwardand running quickest, at once began to draw away from theother competitors.Erna-Signe kept its lead the whole way up the half-wind side,and rounded the first flag a good number one. During thetacking-bout that succeeded, the Heatherbell left the other two boatsand tried its fortunes out to sea beneath Norrskär. A sharp struggleensued between the Swedish boat and the Norwegian. Magda sooncrept nearer and nearer to the Erna-Signe and, about half way on thetacking leg, passed the Swedish boat and then kept the whole timebetween the buoy and Erna-Signe, lying on the same tacks as the latter.The Magda proved itself a good cruiser and lay very close to thewind. By degrees Heatherbell came back from seawards; but itproved to be behind its rivals.The order mentioned was retained until the flag-ship was reached.10-Metre class.The order of the 10-metre yachts on starting was: Marga, representingSweden; Kitty, Sweden; Nina, Finland, and Gallia II, Russia.Kitty lay very well, but its balloon was yarned too tight andcould not be got out for a couple of minutes, this causing the boatto fall off a little, but when the sail filled, the boat rapidly made uplost ground and was soon leading. Nina took second place and therace was finished without any alteration in the relative positions of theboats. The Russian, Gallia, II was close behind the Finnish boat atthe flag-ship, Marga being last.775