The morning call., 1893-10-10

similar circumstances and in like weather
the yachts that last summer contended
against the Vigilant in the races off New
port.
The Vigilant rounded the first mark 4
minutes and 10 seconds ahead. The wind
was blowing fifteen miles an hour and
steadily increasing. There was a great
gap OF sun-lit and wind tossed waters be-
tween the two boats, for the Valkyrie had
been badly beaten in windward work, and
the America cup was safe. The race was
won, and every minute only served to in
crease the victory of the Vigilant.
Alter rounding the first mark the yachts
took in their baby jib-topsails and set big
ger ones. They were not full-grown bal
looms. but were big ones. The Vigilant
eased her sheets and went swift as grey
hounds run when the leash is slipped. The
Valkyrie was sailed closer and lost steadily
all the time.
The seas were ruffled and sparkling and
dancing, and far away before the British
champion plunged the white sloop of
America. The Vigilant was so far ahead
before ona-half of the distance from the
first to the second mark was covered, that
all the fleet Of boats of observation had
left the Valkyrie and were jingling up
their bells to catch the Vigilant.
The Vigilant took in her big jib topsail
and set a smaller one. The Valkyrie did
the same. As the second mark was reached
the jib tOpsail of the Vigilant came in.
She had on a balloon staysail. She rounded
the second mark jibing her boom over to
port and stretched away for the finish. 60
ing as never boat under similar conditions
of wind and weather went before.
Under her bows white foam was shining
in the sunlight, ann clean against the sky
her sails of beauty rose. There was swift
ness. power and victory in every curve of
sail and every line of hull.
Slowly, and as if it mattered little how
long she was about it, she ran up her baby
jib topsail aud then broke it out.
In the meantime, far. far astern, the
lovely Valkyrie. with not even a tugboat
to bear her company, came along to the
second mark.
She took in her jib topsail before round
ing, and after rounding set similar one.
The gain of the Vigilant on the second
leg was minutes and IL seconds, which
added to her gain in the first leg made her
entire gain up to the second mar K min
utes and 81 seconds.
The wind. which had been increasing all
the time, was blowing twenty-five miles
an hour when the yachts rounded the sec
ond mark. AS they got in toward the
lightship they found still more wind and
put their lee rails awash.
The Vigilant took in her balloon stay
sail and set her working staysail. No one
who did not see her can have any idea
how she few along.
All about her, but keeping at reason
able distance. the attendant feet of excur-
sion steamers sped along, and way back,
with hull down and the towering line Of
her sails against the sky, came after her
the Valkyrie.
The wind increased to twenty miles
an hour before the lightship was reached,
and at the hnish it was blowing thirty
miles.
Finally, but rot with rush and plunge
and with no tapping of giant canvas, but
easily, gracefully sliding over the waves as
if they were hers and slaves to do her bid
ding The flying Vigilant went in between
the red-hulled lightshp and the black
hulled May, and all the glory Of the day
was hers.
Long. long after her came the Valkyrie,
and the race was over. and not only was
the race over, but the outcome of the in
ternational races for this year was settled.
The result was a surprise, even to the
most enthusiastic Of the Vigilant's ad-
mirers. They had expected that the
Vigilant would beat the Valkyrie, but had
not been prepared for anything like this.
The victory was a grand one ana long
shall the name of the Vigilant live in the
history of the seas. The gain of the Vigi-
liant on the third leg was min. 26 Sec,
making her total gain u min. % sec.
Deducting the time allowance of l min
ute and 4S seconds this makes the Vigilant
the winner by 10 minutes and 35 seconds.
Both boats were sailed by such compe-
tent men that 1t would have been idle for
an amateur to criticize.
The next race will be sailed Wednesday
over a thirty-mile course. fifteen miles to
sea from Sandy Hook lightship and re-
turn.