About three o'clock
When the hour came there were six crews present actually prepared to contest for the prize -- a tall ebony crucifix , with a gilded image , to be displayed of holidays on the winning prow . The shrinkage told the usual tale of courage oozed out . There was of course no end of explanation . About three o'clock , the six boats , each with a crew of five men , were held in front of the Princess ' stand , representative of as many towns . Their prows were decorated with banderoles large enough to be easily distinguished at a distance -- one yellow , chosen for Yenimahale ; one blue , for Buyukdere ; one white , for Therapia ; one red , for Stenia ; one green , for Balta-Liman ; and one half white and half scarlet , for Bebek . The crews were in their seats -- fellows with knotted arms bare to the shoulder ; white shirts under jackets the color of the flags , trousers in width like petticoats . The feet were uncovered that , while the pull was in delivery , they might the better clinch the cleats across the bottom of the boat .