The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-10

sented the letters d. F. l., which signifled that
the FIRST leg OF the triangle would be southwest
by south. This was the direction from which
the propitious breeze was coming.
Ihe next string Of bunting. consisting OF
three remnants. symbolized the letters D. C. r.,
which meant that the second leg OF the course
would be east half south. The last string
was made up OF two pennants and square
nag. meaning d. G. r. and indicating to the
skippers ofthe racing yachts. who consulted
their books to make sure about tho matter.
that the last leg of the contest would be north
northwest. one-halt west
Ten minutes after the course signals flut-
tered to the wind. the Mays cannon growlcd.
and ambitious pilots OF the attend
Ing fleet engaged In a contest to
get their craft in positions command
Ing good view OF the start The white sloop
and tho black cutter stood off and on to lee
ward OF the limo until within minute of tho
time for the starting gun to boom. Watches.
set by the official timepiece OF the Regatta
Committee were out on Yankee and Brton.
and even fractions OF second wore
counted. as the racers. so close at one
time as to appear to an observer
sighting them across the hull Of the May like
single two-master. stood for the line on the
starboard tack. The Yankee was to windward
Of the Briton. but there seemed to be hardly
an apprecilble difference between them as
they giided across tho line. heading to the
southeast There was really Just two sec-
onds difference in favor OF the Vigiant.
She crossed 10 seconds atter gunnre. or
at 11:25:10. and the Valkyrie followed close
under her lee at IL :25;2l. The Viglant carried
her mainsail. big clubtopsail forestaysail. lib
and small jibtopsaiL minute after she got
away the Valkyrie set her little jibtopsail. and
the yachts were thus under similar canvas
Both began pinchiug for windward portion.
The Vigilant was pointing higher. but was
apparently sacrificing little In foot
ing. The leeches of her head sails
began to shiver. and kept 1t up much to the
disgust OF patriotic amateurs. until the VAL
kyrie seemed to be sixth OF mile ahead.
although somewhat to leewari. The cutters
headsails described unruf1ed curves that
were beautiful to look upon. The wind began to
freshen. and the Brton sacrificed m omentarly.
the fawless contour Of her canvas to getting
up into the wind bit. In the effort to do the
trick she lost Roadway, and the ViGilant be-
gan closing the gap. The ufflng Of the Brton
was ineffective. Like the distinguished keels
OF other years. she soon found out why the
Yankee shippers have fondness for centre
boards
magnifcently. but her three head sails. while
retaining the wind very well. were still trem-
ulous at leeeh and lufE. The head Of the fore
staysail futtered In manner that created a
sympathetic agitation in the hearts OF the
loyal advocates OF the centreboard The talent
on the Vigilant evidently feared that their
sloop. which was apparently as good at foot
ing as the cutter. might not be much superior
as pointer.
The perfect set OF the Briton's curving can
vas deserved the admiration it won. At IL :55
the Vigilant began to forge ahead. her head
sails still attending somewhat under the
influence OF freshening breeze. She was
still fully an eighth Of mile on the
swan maiden's" weather. or starboard
quarter. AS they bounded down the Jersey
coast the foam frills on the murky blue in
creased. Where there had been only q few
snowy patches there appeared few thou
sand Onward. onward rushed the white
speeder. her steel knife carving her a course
higher than any Yankee yacht has ever at
tanned. The first symptom Of fear shown by
the Briton was at 1905, when she lowered her
little iibtopsail. apparently finding that it was
doing her small good. and powled along under
jib and forestaysail.
At 1900 the ViGilant threatened to walk
through the weather OF the ValSyrie. and the
i)tiLous iaihoi tiau " lhlS
went about on the port tack. II the Yankee
had desired she might have stood on her
course and probably crossed the bows Of her
rival.
Not succeeding IN this. she might have forced
the Valkyris about. as her position, on the
starboard tack, gave her the right to do. She
courteously chose to take the other tack. which
brought her about u hundred yards on Briton's
weather quarter.
The Vigilant was standing about quarter
OF point higher into the wind than the VAL
kyrie. and the more the breeze freshened the
swifter she carved her way through the crest
ed swells. The Valkyrle luffed. apparently in
tending to 60 about She didn't, however.
grip on the wind. The, VlgIiant lowered
her own bit OF a jibtopsail at H. and kept
UP her g3fiG G act OF gnhfns to WinIMdrd nha
Vigilant lay down to her work somewhat more
than the yalkyrie. but that circumstance
merely M ADDED TO her grace she Old not spill
The %ssns sent up little dib,sSps9
ousls the Brlton luifed up, with ,jib and fore;
sail shiyering In an ambitious effort to head
higher. she also 20 ran up snail I,ot9psai a.
her. At IL: 48 the Vigiiant sent her libtopsail
down; and the Valkyrie followed suit half
: The yalky rle went on the starboard tack at
12:4S The Vigilant initiated ner a mi nute later.
nearly nan u mile 10 WlnuWhFu. me NdlhyFIe
stood ON this leg only three minutes. AID
then she went about again. TWO minutes
later the centreboarder did likewise. She |
seemed to gain additional advantage after
the westward. thus making the several short
legs necessary The yalkyris, hopeless Of
and a succeeding tack. went about on tho
at 12:5S The Vigilant held to the |
port tack. The, Valkyrie came about on the
port tack at ] 01.
The yigilant was leaping shoreward ike
time at l:o+; and rounded the flag buoy at
was awash. She sent her big jibtopsail up in
stops, and broke 1t out three minutes after
The ,valkyrie went on, the port tack at 10 !
and stood for the mark. which she rounded |
at l:11 30. The official time keepers made out |
that the Yankee yacht was minutes and 40
seconds ahead of the cutter
The second course was run directly out to |
sea with the wind on the starhoari quarter. |
The Yalkyrio substituted u big white Irish |
linen foretopsail and iibtonsaIl for the duskier
canvas she carried when she rounded the flag |
buoy. The Niglant lowered her big iibtopsail |
at l :35. and dashed in q spatter Of spray aud |
III,