The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-10-08
She Wins WITH EASE
The Yl6llint Victorious In Tho First Of
the international Races
AMERICA RULES THE WAVE
With q Light Wind the Center
boarder Speeds Far Ahead OF
the Gutter The vaikyrie
Eight Minutes Behind.


Eight Minutes Behind.
NEW YORK, Oct. 7.-Bowling along un-
der o fair wind, the American cup de-
fender vigilaut crossed the line at the
Sandy H ook light ship at $50 O'Clock this
afternoon, the winner In the lrst OF the
international races for the American cup.
The valkyrie arrived home almost eight
minutes later and both were at once taken
in tow by their respective tenders and
hurried to anchorage OF Bay Ridge.
1t was q magnificent race from . naval
point Of view and demonstrated for aday,
at least, the superiority of tho CENTER
boarder over the cutter, as well as the
superior craftsmanship OF the mon who
handled the English boat. One thing only
was lacking and that was wind. Never
more than light wind prevailed and
sometimes 1t was scarcely more than
puff. When the committee in charge Of
the race decided that the course should
begin with lee run to east northeast,
before west northwest wind, signal
was run up to announce the fact. This
was at II q. m. The shippers In charge OF
the racers, having accepted the conditions
of the weather and the judgment OF the
committee. began to skirmish for favor
able position above the line. The pro-
paratory gun was fired sharp nj IL :l5, and
when the starting gun was touched OIL
there was only question OF about 80 feet
between the two yachts, the Valkyrie hav-
ing the lead.
The wind was blowing at rate OF about
seven miles an hour and the cutter kept
on increasing her lead. At the end of the
mile she was good two lengths ahead.
The valkyrio increased her lead at least
one more length during the first two
miles. From that point up 10 the distance
OF four aud q half miles the Vigilant held
her own. Then o change came. Sud-
denly the vigilant caught a slant wind,
although the valkyrie was not touched by
Il, and within Is minutes she was fully a
quarter OF mile in the lead. In another
quarter Of an hour the American boat not
only held the lead, but increased 1t to q
full mile before she had sailed i've miles.
About this time the wind hauled away
round to south southwest, necessitating
some changes in the sails. Tho valkyrie
remained at her milo distance and could
not gain an inch. Half an hour later the
wind shifted again and once more the
spinnakers were rieged. The vaikyris
could not improve her position, but on:the
contrary rather dropped of. The Vigil
LIANT went on ahead and did not stop until
tho end Of her outward journey. The
American boat made the turn OF the outer
mark amid great enthusiasm. The wind
was now about west, and 1t became q
question of long reach. 1t is on the reach
that tho cutter is supposed to be at her
best. During the reach. however,
with oil things equal, the vigilant
actually gained on the cutter. There
was another shift in the wind and
boats both were compelled to sail closely
to the wind. Tho valkyrie certainly APP
psared to gain ground. The distance that
the valkyrie overhauled the Vigilant was
considerable, but all the time she was sag
ging of to Toward, while the centerboard
was holding her head At the wind. The
Valkyrie caught . slight wind and picked
up probably q quarter of o mile. Up to
the end OF the course there was no Incl
dent. The vigilant crossed the line on
the same tack, while the vslkyrie, having
sagged away to leeward, had to 60 about
before she could cross.
Al the home line the flotilla Of excur-
sionists formed . crescent. Thousands of
spectators braved immersion and clam
bered to every point OF vantage. They
showed joy in their countenances as tho
vigilant crept steadily nearer the swing
ing lightship. Their JOY burst its bonds
a. the brave little vigilant dipped grace
fully through tho waves. and long before
the screaming Of the whistles told that the
royal battle had ended, hundred thou
sand tongues proclaimed in true Ameri-
can style that as yet the queen Of center
boarders and cutters 10 here, and has still
the speed and strength to bear the name
of the cup defender In reality.
The regatta committee of the New York
Yacht club gave out the following table Of
figures: Start-actual time: ViRilant,
II :25 80; valkyrie, II rs rs; turning to
outer mark, vigilant, I so 80; valkyrie,
1 AS :t8; finish, vieilant. 3:3o:i7; valkyrie,
3 :3s :23; elapsed time. vieiiant, 4:o5 :27 !;
valkyrie, l:i3:23; corrected time, Vigil
liant, 4 :05 :27; valkyrie, 4:ll :35. Thus the
vigilant won by five minutes and ~ Sec
onds on corrected and official time. II
will be seen that the Valkyrio gained on
the stretch home, as she was eight min
utes and six seconds behind when the
outer mark vas turned, and seven min
utes and 50 seconds at the finish in actual