The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-05
THE INTERNATIONAL YACHT RACE.

The remarkably hne appearance and
performance OF the English yacht Val
kyrie, in New York harbor. has shaken
the faith of those Americans who believed
the Figilant was 10 be a sure winner. IL
is confessed on all sides today that the
vigIlant will have to prove herself a much
faster boat than the Volunteer to beat the
English yacht. The chances OF the con-
test have been carefully argued pro and
con in the New York SUN. A correspond
ent under date of September IL. who Is
clearly a professional yaehtsman, states
the dimensions of the yigiiant and Val
kyrie as follows:
vISfLAsr.
Length on water line ..sssx feet
beam over al % lest
Dspiace ment- 40 fons
saiI spread 800 square feet
vALxYsik
Length on water iine ..................ssl s feet
Beam over all. feet
DraugHt .-.s .......s..t--.-..-,.-,.. 10 ieet
Displacement. 10 10 l60 tons
Sail spread ...<-..--.....-s.%....lu1u square ieei
The vigilant therefore has about 1000
square feet more OF sail on from ten to
twenty tons less displacement than the
valkyric. For each ton weight the
vigilans has about eighty square feet and
the Vaikyric from sixty-fve TO sixty-eight
square feet of sail area.
From these facts this correspondent
argues that we may be reasonably certain
that the proportion OF sail area 20 total
surface friction Is more favorable in the
- Al Ill. -. al -
the vakyrie. If this be SO. then in light
winds. no. developing more than six or
seven knots speed, the vigilant should
win. On the other hand this correspondent
points out that tho Vigilant has both great
beam and great area of midship section as
compared with the valkyrie. and il will be
altogether unreasonable TO contend that
her form is rs easy to drive at high speeds,
say ten to twelve knots per hour, as the
form of the Valkyrie. And he regards
II probable should the vigilant meet the
valkyrie in circumstances favorable for
very high speed. as twelve to thirteen
knots. such "a reaching IN a strong breeze,
the former will be beaten IN such race.
Now, summarizing the foregoing discus
sion. If the wind is light In oil the cup
races, the vigilsnt should keep the cup
here, because of her large sail area and
bronze bottom. In any case she should
win the race to windward and leeward,
from her superior qualities OF pointing and
fetching high.
Should the wind be strong in the other
races. so that the Valkyrie will attain O
twelve kno. gait. the vigilant is likely to
be beaten in such races, aud the Valkyrie,
by winning three out of Eve races, may
take the cup back with her.
Another correspondent writes the Sun
| that the Vaikyr1e will receive something
l Of time allowance in view OF the Vigilant's
/ excess of sail area over hers IL 100 square
/ feetl. that is, assuming their water line
| lengths 10 be substantially the same. This
is small but constant factor agains, u $.
| The Vigilant ami the yslkyrie are prob
l ably both able 10 look within four points
/ OF the wind. We hope and expect that,
| speed for speed, the VigilAnt can look and
! fetch snywhers from n quarter 20 a half
/ point better than the Valkyrie. This will
/ make Up for the ''time factors" which ex.
ist In the Valkyries favor, and the final
conclusion = eighty square feet Of canvas
I PER ton of displacement for the vigllant a
! against six.y-elgh, for the Nalkyrie. EN-.
bodies our main opportunity for success.
| When the professional friends of the
| Vsg.lans In America think the race is a.
close rs this We need not be greatly
startled ii Lord nunrAven carries home
| the cup. On the other haad We have tn.
opinion of the Nigilani expressed by Mr..
Alfred III. Brown. the designer OF a mum.
Der OF fiae Engiish yachts. he knows the
valkyris well. and says it is a toss-ap be-
tween her and the britannia. While he
has not seen the VigilAnt he has studied
her design and watched her work with
deer inssrest, and believes that the Val
/ kyrie will Re beaten. This Englshman !.
| convinced that the American eenserboard
is superior in sailing qualities to the Ems.