The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-10-06
Vigllant and ValkYriG in Light and
ChangGaDlG Winds.
THOUSANDS WE'RE DISAPPOINTED
rho British Yacht Had the Best of IL
though there was no Real Race
to Judge by.
Associated Press.

New York, Oct. 5.-The first OF the
series of five races for the America cur
between the British yacht Valkyrle
and the American yacht Vigilant, was
sailed today The start was made off
Sandy Hook. The course was to be fif-
teen miles to windward, or leeward and
return, the yachts to cover the course
in six hours, At 4:35 p. m, the Valky-
rie led by mile. There was no race as
the time limit was exceeded.
Baffled by light and variable Winds,
winds, the yachts Vigilant and Val
kyrie started today on the first of the
international races for the Americas
cup but were compelled to abandon the
contest. The English cutter was then
a mile in advance of the Vigilant and
the point from which they started al
most six hours before, yet miles away.
1t was a keen disappointment to the
thousands who had stood by the rails
and clung to vantage ground on board
the steamers all day. The overpowering
attraction of the big race between the
English and American prize winners
drew the biggest fotilla that ever
sailed to Sandy Hook to see a yacht
race and every boat was crowded. There
was as a matter of fact, no actual con-
test between the yachts, but under to-
days conditions, 1t has to be admitted
that the Valkyrie had everything her
own way. The little wind prevailing,
was close to due northwest and the re-
gatta committee decided that the boats
should start away to leeward for the
first fifteen miles, and return to the
windward. The international racers
were lying close to the starting point
busy with preparations till well on to
II o'clock, when they began to make
sail There was n general remark that
the Vigilant's sail area was greater
than her opponents. When the prepar-
round and found a position under the
Vigilant's lee quarter Both boats then
headed for the line. 1t only took forty
seconds after the starting gun was
fred for the Vigilant to get over the
line The English boat was about six
lengths behind. When two miles out
the centre boarder gained half a minute
in time, apparently
During the first two miles the breeze
freshened up but scarcely had The
squirt made itself known than 1t died
out and there was less air than pre-
vailed previously. From then the boats
entered into a drifting match. They
were about six miles out with the Wig
liant pretty nearly half a mile ahead,
when the accident of the day occurred.
She lost her wind and could not hold
her helm. 1t was fully a quarter of an
of picking up again. BY that
time her adversary was so far ahead
that II was generally conceded that
the English boat must win the race un-
less a good stiff breeze should spring
up. The wind began to haul to the
south and the yachts had to make a
tack to reach the outr buoy. In this
work the Vigilant gained little on the
Valkyrie. The Vallyrie rounded the
buoy amid the wild shrieldngs Of steam
whistles. Twenty-six minutes after this
the Vigilant made the turn with even
greater clamor. She was q mile behind
and had to allow over a minute and
When about half the
homeward journey had been completed
Lord Dunrayen, who was on his own
boat hailed his tug, asked for tow
line and brought her back to the bay
under steam power. The Vigilant did
the same thing. There will be no race
tomorrow, but another attempt win be
made on Saturday.