The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-10-06

very little difference, the Valkyre having
| a slight advantage in a heavy wind. As
regards measurement, the Vigilant car
| ries much more sail compared with her
! spars. This is an advantage, as she allows
a smaller time allowance than she would
| If tile actual area OF sails were measured.
or the comparative merits of the copper
and tObin-bronZe bottoms IL Is difficult TO
judge. The Vigilant has probably u slight
| advantage.
The boats are well provided with talent
to handle them. The Vigilant has five
| men on board. any one OF whom is capa-
bic of sailing her. They are Mr.. Iselin.
Mr.. Willard, Mr.. Herreshoff, Captain
Hansen and Captain Terry. 1t is
! not often that such an array OF
talent has been on a yacht before. The
crew is well drilled. On the Valkyrie the
principal man is Captain C-anfeld. On
him will probably devolve most of the
work of sailing her. The crew or the
Valkyrie is far ahead OF that on the
Vigilant. They all come from the same
place, are thoroughly interested in the sue
cess of the boat, and have had the ex-
perience OF twenty or more races this
season. In jockeying around marks or At
close quarters and in setting sails the
Valkyrie will have the advantage. In the
refinements of trimming sails. Judgment
and general management the advantage
would be with the Vigilant.
The Figilant. the defender Of the cup, Is
125 feet over all, S6.1 water-line, 26 feet
beam and IA feet draft; the center board is
about 20 feet long aud drops 10 feet. max
ing the total draft "A feet. The board is of
metal, weighing three tons or more. In
sheer outline the boat is quite hand
some The line of sheer runs with an
the stern. The curve is parabollc
rather than circular. which ac-
counts for the handsome appear
ance. The line of the stern shows
less curve of the bottom OF the boat.
A little forward of the mast It takes re.
verse curve, going down sharply to the
keel and ending about three feet aft OF the
mast. The lead is bolted on outside, and
is well rounded on the sides and bottom,
the bottom being fat for about foot
The stern post is placed about two feet for
ward of the water line, and has moder-
ate rake.
The sails are now all extremsly good,
and a careful examination OF the boat,
rigging and sails shows that the VIgilapt
is thoroughly fitted to defend the cup.
Probably never in the history of yachting
has SO much care, thought and money
been expended to bring yacht to the line
In perfect racing form.
AS no official measurments have been
given we can only give approximate
dimensions of the Nalkyrie. Length Of
all, 122 feet; length at water line. Sc %
feet; beam. II feet; draught, Is feet. In
sheer outline the boat is very handsome.
The side is higher and bolder than the
Thistle, but has that long, graceful sweep
SO much admired in the former chal-
lenger. The stem has very round
appearance. Starting from nearly per-
pendicular line it sweeps down and crosses
the water line again and runs almost
straight. Just under the mast the keel
takes "A sweep downward, and then reverses
until it reaches the lowest point. 1t then
runs along with a gentle curve to the stern
post. The stern post is set some SIX
feet forward of the water line, and has u
rake of nearly 10 degrees. The boat gives
one the idea of being originally designed
triangular in outline and afterward
dropped three or four feet where the lead
is put on. The boat above water is like
the sleeps clothing to the wolf. 1t sug-
gests in no way what powerful craft
there is beneath. The Valkyrie is of COM
posite construction, the keel plate gar
boards, sheer stroke and deck stringer,
deck beams, and frames being of steel.
Across the frames and deck beams are
steel strips all well fastened to the frames,
stringers, etc. The object of the wooden
planking where so much steel has been
used is mainly to keep the water out. The
planking is OF teak.
The American boat has the advantage
in being in home waters, in having lighter
and more rigid spars, very much less
weight aloft, larger sail plane, better
surface and probably better handling.
These advantages ara all independent of
the model. The Valkyrie is very pow
erful boat, with rig smaller in proper
ton to her stability than her opponent.
If the Valkyrle should win in moderate
weather. handicapped AS she is, it will be
a remarkable thing. In heavy weather
she should make the best showing. and if
she wins il will be under those conditions