Battling a tricky cross-wind and choppy waters, three Harvard crews bowed to experienced M.I.T. and Cornell eights Saturday afternoon on the Henley Course in the first formal triangular regatta since the war started. Both M.I.T. and Cornell had formal spring racing seasons, and Cornell, the added advantage of frequent practice in rough water. "We just met better crews, that's all," remarked Coach Bert Haines after the contest.

Crimson crewmen came closest to bringing home rival shirts in the preliminary event between M.I.T. and Harvard third boats. Finishing 14 seconds behind the Engineers' shell, Bill Allen's eight, coxed by Harold May, lost its race by two lengths. In the Jayvee contest Charlie Loring's Freshman squad trailed by four lengths, and in the Varsity event, John Chandler's boat finished three distances behind.

Highlighting the afternoon was the Jayvee race, in which M.I.T. edged out the Redmen by only two feet., Getting off to a bad start, Cornell soon outdistanced the Crimsonmen and threatened Tech from the half-mark on. Then a beautiful last-minute spurt almost turned the trick, at any rate leaving the Cantabs out of the competition by two and one-half lengths.

In the Varsity event at the end of the regatta, M.I.T. pulled ahead of Cornell a half-mile through the course and held a two-length lead for the remainder of the contest. Coach Haines' tutelages again showed their determination but lack of precision and finished 15 seconds after the Redmen, with a 7.25 times against 7.10 for Cornell and 7.07 for M.I.T.

The Harvard boatings (weights in parentheses):

Varsity: Stroke, John Chandler (175); 7, Dick Hunneman, Jr. (174); 6, Bob Funkhouser (191); 5, Ken McAfee, Jr. (185); 4, Morton Hamilton (175); 3, Bob Bunten, Jr. (180); 2, John Kettele, Jr. (165); bow, Bill Stiles (170); cox, Dan Paul (122).

J.V.: Stroke, Charlie Loring (190); 7, Peter Roll (172); 6, Dick West (166); 5, John O'Brien, Jr. (210); 4, Marshall Cohan (172); 3, Selden Dockinson (187); 2, David White (160); bow, Charles Rimmer, Jr., (165); cox, Bill Longmaid (125).

Third Boat: Stroke, Bill Allen (159); 7, Ed Gordy (170); 6, Tom Steele (155); 5, Lewis Clark (168); 4, Bob Erskine, Jr. (165); 3, Henry Morgan, Jr. (170); 2, Peter Heller (172); bow, Arthur Nichols III (163); cox, Harold May (135).