The morning call., 1893-10-08
more than a light wind prevailed and

When the committee in charge of the
race decided the course should begin with
lee run to east-nortbeast before a west
orthwest wind. the signal was run up to
announce the fact. This was at II A. NJ.
The shippers in charge of the racers, hav-
ing accepted the conditions. weather and
judgment of the committee. began to
sklrmish for q favorable position above
the line.
The preparatory gun was fred sharp at
II :15 o'clock. and when the starting gun
was touched off there was only aQuestion
of about $50 feet between the two yachts.
the Valkyre having the lead. The wind
was blowing at the rate of about seven
miles an hour. anu the cutter kept on in
creasing the lead. At the end of mile
she was a good two lengths ahead.
The Valkyrie increased the lead at least
one more length during the first two miles.
From that point up to a distance of four
and half miles the Vigilant held her
own. Then a change came. Suddenly the
Vigllant caught slant wind, although
the Valkyrie was not touched by it. and
within fifteen minutes she was fully
mile in the lead. In another quarter of an
hour the American boat not only held the
lead. but increased it to a full mile before
she had sailed five miles. About this time
the wind hauled away round to the south
southwest, necessitatibg some changes to
the sails.
The Valkyrie remained at her mile dis
tance and could not gain an inch. Ralf an
hour later the wind shifted again. and
once more the spinnakers were rigged.
The Valkyrie could not improve the posi-
tioD, but. on the contrary, rather dropped
off. The Vigilant went on ahead and did
not stop till the end of the outward jour
ney. The American boat made the turn
of the outer mark amid the greatest enthu-
siam. The wind was now about west. and
it became question of how long to reach
to be at her best. During the reach, how
ever, with all things equal, the Vigilant
actually gained on the cutter.
There was another shift 10 the wind and
the boats were compelled to sail closely to
the wind. The Valkyrie certainly ap-
peared to gain ground. The distance of
the Valkyrie in overhauling the Vigilant
was considerable, but not all the time.
She was sagging off to leeward, while the
centerboard was holding her head at the
wind. The Valkyrie caught slight wind
aud picked up probably a quarter of
mile. Up to the end of the course there
was no incident. The Vigilant crossed the
line on the same tack, while the Valkyrie.
having sagged away TO leeward, had to 60
about before she could cross.
At the home line the flotila of excur-
sionists formed a crescent. Thousands
of spectators brayed immersion and
clam bered to every point of vantage. They
showed joy in their cOuntenances as the
Vigilant crept nearer to the swinging light
ship. Their joy burst the bonds as the
brave little Vigilant dipped through the
waves, and long before the screaming
whistles told OF the royal battle having
ended a hundred thousand tongues pro-
claimed in true American record that as
yet the queen of centerboarders and cut
ters is here and has still speed and strength
to bear the name Of cup-defender liz
reality.
The regatta committee Of the New York
Yacht Club gave out the following table
of figures: Start, actual time of the Vigi-,
liant. II :25 80; Valkyries IL 1926; turning
the outer mark. Vigilant. / 80 80; Valkyrie,
:4S 90; finish, Vigilant, $3.50 AT; Valkyrie.
3 :3S :23; elapsed time, Vigilant. 4:O5 27,
Valkyrie, 4:13:23; corrected time, Vigi-
liant, 4:05 %; Vaikyrie. All SO. Thus the
Vigilant won by minutes and 4S seconds
on the corrected and official time. Ii will
be seen that the Valkyrie gained on the
stretch home, as she was minutes and
seconds behind when the outer mark was
turned and minutes and SO seconds at
the finish in actual time