half past nine
asked the chairman . `` I have a watch with a second hand , and I will take that office , '' said Frank Norwood , who was the third . Most of the yachts were already in line , and the captain of the fleet , in the tender of his yacht , was arranging them , the largest to windward . The first gun had been fired at half past nine which was the signal to get into line , and at the next , the yachts were to get under way . All sail except the jib was set , and at the signal each craft was to slip her cable , hoist her jib , if she had one , and get under way , as quickly as possible . The `` rode '' was simply to be cast off , for the end of it was made fast to the tender , which was used as a buoy for the anchor . `` Are they all ready ? ''