The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-10-30
A GREAT RACE.
a Spirited Sketch BY an Eye
Witness.

the Nalkyrie. But for an accident she
would have won the third of the races
for the Americas cup, and had a
fighting chance to take the trophy
back to the tight little isle.
But she lost the race by the "nar-
row squawk" of 10 seconds, and now
the yachtsmen are saying il would be
the proper thing for the Vigilant peo-
pie TO do to say they will not accept
the victory, but sail the race over
again.
The Nalkyrie was a surprise to
everybody. She toyed with Americas
pride in going to windward, and had
1t not been for a split in that magni-
ficent spinnaker OF hers would have
crossed the line either ahead OF the
Nigilant or so close behind her that
the time allowance would have given
her the race.
There was at last wind enough-the
wind which the Englishman has been
praying for all along, and which
would remind him of the nasty wea-
ther which makes his dreadful chan
mel the worst place for seasickness of
all the wind-smitten seas. That little
hurricane which sported with Florida
and rushed up along the coast, tear
ing things as it came, caught New
York and Sandy Hook in good time
for the race. 1t blew thirty miles an
hour before the start and increased as
the race progressed. San Franciscans
will know what that means when
they think that thirty miles an hour
is a good swinging summer afternoon
gale in the channel between Fort Ma
son and Lime Point.
They've wanted a wind-now
they've got it," said Mr.. Iselin, with
splendid disdain in his tone. "We'll
show them that center board is bet
ter than cutter in all weathers."
Nearly everybody felt the same
way. They said the Vigilant would
probably make the beating ID mill
utes this time. She had made it II
minutes and more in n twenty-mile
breeze, and with a good half gale she
ought TO increase this by something
like quarter.
There was some anxiety to see what
result that extra ton of inside ballast
put in the Valkyrie yesterday would
have, but the confident Americans
sneered at it as q death-bed repent
ance and an experiment which was
being made short time after the cir
Gus had moved on.
The Valkyrie was behind time
badly behind time. Her wheeZy little
tug couldn't get her up to the mark
against the gale, and when the pre-
paratory signal was given she was so
Tar away InaC she hituh even Il hope
in sight.
The Vfgilant was on hand maneu-
vering for position and standing to her
work in an encouraging manner. Had
she chosen to be technical she could
have had the race won before the fir
ing of the starting gun, for the Eng
lish yacht would have been so far be-
hind the start that she couldn't have
caught up without steam or electri-
81 NJ 10
take advantage, and the start was de-
layed long after the agreed time in
r order to give the Valkyrie fair run
for the coveted prize.
"Bangw the preparatory gun
doomed again.
The agreed starting time was 11:25,
but the Vallyrie was so dilatory that
it was an hour later when the second
preparatory gun was touched of.
"Boomr'
''They're off," shouted everybody
who wasn't too sick to shout.
They both crossed the line together
at 1927, the Nalkyrie to windward
and going like the driving scud. She
had the windward position and
seemed able to hold it.
"By the eternal Look Mt that
Englishman gow exclaimed "Robo"
Schuyler, out with select party.
liant as sure as I'm lubber."
1t was fact. Inch by inch that
long black nose pointed out in front
of the long white nose, and those sails,
trimmed flat as n white wall, kept
shutting out the Vigilant.
"The extra lead was what she
wanted" said Englishmen and Anglo
maniacs.
"Oh, we'll catch her all right" said
Al, A m affan1 Mt inc
to cheer n haggard hope. ''She's al
WAYS got away in the lead, but
couldn't stay there. Wait till old
Cap Hanson gets the Vigilant down
to business. Then she'll make Lord
Dunraven think he's on mud flat"
Both yachts were smoking through
it. The spray dashed from them in
as the floor of q hammam bath. On,
on, on they went, every sail filled to
the splitting point; both bowsprits
threatening to buckle; topmasts
housed, and everything slowed safe
and snug.
"Why don't Hanson ease her off
bitw grumbled the blue-nOsed and
fidgety oneS.-"He'S keeping her
pinched too close"
'sHanson knows his business" re-
torted others. "Just keep an eye on
him and see him gain tack on the
EngIisher before the outer mark is
cached"
However, away went the Valkyrie,
and the Vigilant had a splendid view
of the overhang of her stern. The
wind got fresher every minute and the
sea more lumpy. Both yachts stood
up all right under their canvas. Even if
the Vigilant was dropping behind she
was answering the sneers of those who
said she couldn't do anything in bad
weather. Her work today proved that
she would have no trouble in crossing
the Atlantic to race the boastful Eng |
lishmen in their own waters. AS to |
her success when she got over there,
however, that sousing Valkyrie was
leaving in her wake big question.
At the end of the first mile the Val
kyrie was an eighth of a mile ahead,
but the Nigilant was working up to
windward. Some people began to cal
culate that an eighth of a mile gained
in going one mile meant fifteen eighths |
of mile i'll working out to the turn
ing point, and that meant also de- |
feat, which would be well nigh dis |
grace.
But then it was seen that the Vigil |
lant's pointing was doing her some |
good, and that the gain of the English