Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-10-05
THE VALKYRIE IN A BREEZE.
Out In Stiff Wind on Friday and
She Exhibits Her Fine Powers.

Lord Dunraven's Cutter In an iS-knot
Wind--she Logs OF Nearly 1 1 Knots an
Hour--Hor Work Closely Watched by
the New Yorker Ariel
NEW YoRK, Sept 30.--Lord Dunrayen's
cutter Yalkyrie had another trial spin out
side OF Sandy Hook yesterday, and the
able manner in which she acquitted her
self in the fresh northwesterly breeze con-
Ninced every one who saw her perform
that she will prove dangerous customer
for the Vigilant in any sort Of breeze.
While there was ali evident disposition
to hold her back, still she got her head at
times, and while reaching out past the
Hook she seemed to be making i'll the
.neighborhood of II knots an hour, which
every one was willing to admit was quite
as fast as they cared to see her go under
working canvas, and some of the more
cautious of the betting men thought they
might Just as well do little hedging if
they got chance.
lord Dunraven, accompanied by III.
Maitland Kersey, Brother-in-law Kerr.
Designer Watson and Sailmaker Ratsey,
came down to Bay Bldge on the tug Lewis
Pulyer shortly after 10 O'Clock aud were
rowed out to the Valkyrie, where prepare
tons were Immediately made to get Nnder
way. After little delay, 1t was decided
to dispense with the services of the tug, as
there was line 1S-knot breeze blowing
from the north northwest. II had so much
power in its elbow that any number of the
smaller working schooners and sloops were
reefed, while white caps covered the
usually placid surface of the bay. Captain
Cranlield seemed pleased with the breeze,
but neither he nor the Valkyrios owner
seemed disposed to talk about their plans.
They said that Thursdays sail was simply
for tho purpose of adjusting their COM
passes and to let Mr., Ratsey get an idea Of
how the sails set.
As soon as the Valkyrie's mainsail, was
set yesterday her iib was run up in stops,
and as soon as her anchor was clear she
broke out her iib and stood toward the
Narrows. She was accompanied by G. Ii.
B. HIPS fast schooner Ariel, which was
along on Thursday, Chester w. Chapin's
ocean.going steel schooner Tampa, and
| Wally Watson's pretty little cutter Isis
The Ariel, which only had her forsail, jib
and fOrestaysall up made good progress
along the Bay Ridge shore while the Dun
raven cutter made for the Staten Island
| shore. Captain Cranfied evidently did not
care to have the local yachtsmen get line
on his boat, as the Valkyrie's main sheet
was hauled in far more than was necessary,
| and as result very little work was got out
| of her huge inainslil until after she cleared
the Narrows. She stood up to her work
very well, and in spite of the manner in
which she was held back was making Il
good eight knots under jib and mainsail
alone.
Just after she passed Fort Wadsworth
she set her staysail out, and shortly after
ward her working topsail. Under her in
creased sail she quickly left the speedy
Ariel behind while the smaller fry were
distanced with rapidity that was start
ling. Now that she was clear of the forts it
was seen that her sheets had been eased a
/ ah tagia .s.4ttN usl.a
dashed along through the white caps head.
ing straight for Sandy Hook.
She parted the water cleanly. and while
there was o little feather of foam under
her bow, she seemed to make less fuss
about her work than the Vigilant. There
was good bit of foam where her porl
channels touched the water, but consider
ing the wind and sea. it was remarkably
clean pair of heels which she showed.
In spite of all the criticisms about her
mainsail, it seems to bea remarkably well
lifting one, and while il might be eased O
little at the leech, very few could have
found any fault with the manner in which
il performed its work yesterday. Down til,
bay past Hoffman and Swinburne Islands
at a nine-knot gait, scudded the Dunraver
cutter, passing the Southwest Spit buoy al
l2.1l O'clock, making the reach of Mint
knots in 81 minutes. pretty good work fol
boat that had not been out of the watel
for nearly two months. The Valkyrit
reached the point of the Hook at 12.4;
o'clock, and stood off on the port tack t.
the southwark of the Romer beacon. She
held this tack, however, for only tire,
minutes, and then whirled around like
top on the starboard tack. She seemed Il
be wonderfully quick in stays, and on al
average only consumed 20 seconds in the
operation; that is, from the time her heat
sails began to shake until everything wa
drawing again on the other tack.
She came about again at 1850 o'clock
and worked up the swash channel by shor
tacks. While her work by the wind di,
! not impress one US much as her reaching
still it was very good, and, as far as coult
be seen, she seemed to point very high
She cut through the choppy seas at a rar
, rate of speed, and, while she threw con
siderable spray, no solid water reached
her decks, which WIS equally true of tn
work of the four American cup defenders
After working about the lower bay TO
! some time the Valkyrie was headed TO
! the Narrows. and in the beat to windwar,
on her way back she did not seem to NOV
! as fast as she did outside, which wa
probably because she had the tide agains
her. She reached the Narrows at %
o'clock. and made short tacks up alon
! the staten Island shore to Tomkinsvills
3 arriving there at 2.4j O'Clock. The win
in the meantime had lightened a bit, $
, the Valkyrie, instead of going to he
. | anchorage, reached over toward Ba
Ridge, came about again and ran dow
) before the wind to Coney Island Poin
: At 3.03 she came about again off tn
D Point, and for the second time she heade
/ toward her Bay Ridge anchorage. wher
S she arrived at 4.OS o'clock and droppe
| anchor.