Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-10-09
vIGlLANT WON.
Six Minutes in Lead Of the
English valkyrie.
Latter Lead in Light Winds But Lost
in Sitter Breeze.
Once ners tha Yankee csatreboard Defeats
The English Keel.

Once ners tha Yankee csatfehoard Defeats
the English Keel.
Ngw YoRK, Oct. s.-When the prepsra-
tory gun hoomed across the sea, both of the
racers were to the north'A Ard Of the fsgship,
heading west on the starboard tack. Each
carried her mainssil. elub-topsal and jib,
while the American boat had her jib-topsAi
| hoisted in stops. The Valkyrie was the
| first to gybe over to the port tack, and
lower her spinnaker boom to starboarj,
followed by the Vigilsnt a few seconds
later. They stood to the northward. with
the Vigilant in the lead, and then msneu-
vred around awaiting the starting gun.
When this was sounded AMI the red ball
lowered from the Mays fore stay. they
| were still to the northward and westward, i,
with the Vigilant aboard the May and the
Englishman keeping of Bit in order to
get on the weather quarter of the American.
Scarcely had the echo died away before
the Vigilant broke ont her immense spinna-
ker. which seemed to almost enshroud her
put her helm to starboard and swung aroung
for the line.
,, The Englishman was close upon her
heels, hosting bis spinnaker on the weather
quarter and going over almost bow and bow
ith the American boat. The start was
the most beautiful ever seen in American
| waters, and TO the spectators, it seemed as
though both boats had been simultaneously
shot out of a cannon.
As soon as the yachts were well clear of
the liue, they began to pay close attention
to the trim of their sails. The Vigilsnt
seemed TO have some trouble with her spin
maker, which for some reason got sfoul OF
the starboard shrouds. After clearing this,
| she hauled down her jib topsai and SIT the
balloon. while the Englishman, following
the example set by the American. hoisted
hi, balloon jlb topsail, still holding on to
his jlb.
The position of the Valkyrie OF the wea-
ther quarter of the Vigilant gave her an
immense advantage, for she shot ahead and
for a time it looked SIS though the Ameri-
can WAS beaten boat, At the end of five
minutes the Englishman was fully two
lengths ahead and apparently gaining at
every moment.
This discouraging state of affairs con-
tinued for 10 minutes when the American
boat seemed to gather headway for some
unsccountable reason, and gradually closed
up the gap. until she overlook and passed
Valkyrle, placing at least onethrd of a
mile of clear water between them ut the
end Of the fret hour.
AT noon the Valkyria put out a large
sign, Keep off our weather" but there was
little need for this warning, as the excur-
sion fleet had already given both boats II
wide berths.
About l2l5 the wind began to haul to
the southward, bringing the breeze little
| on the starboard quarter. This forced the
Vigilant TO take III her spinnaker, followed
10 minutes later by the Valkyrie, who had
already hauled down her jib and set her
forestay $ all in its place. The Vieilant con
tinued to gain So rapidly that the Valkyrie
| set her spinnsker again, hoping that this
increase of sail spread might help her
| along.
1t undoubtedly did do some good but
Just as she began to pick up, the Yankee
slcop also set her spinnaker and held her
long lead Toward o'clock, just as the
turning mark hove in sight, the wind be-
came so light that both yachts seemed al
most dead IN the water, their sails hanging
limp and lifeless to the spars. Again it
| seemed AS though the days work would be
all in vain and the six hours would pass
without seeing either yacht at the fini h
line.
At 125 the Wind again hauled to the
| south ard and the Viqilant took in her spin
| maker, followed by the ValkA rie five min
utes later. Tire Eng'ishman was now
standing along with no other head sails st
but his balloon jtbtopsail. His jib was
hoisted in stops, however. The Vigilant
was then carrying the same canvas for
ward, but she soon ran up her forestaysail
and jib.
The wind now freshenad considerably
hauling at the same time more to the sonth-
ward With The freshening breezs almost
aheam the race-s hraccd in and stood for
Tie max, the English boat about a quarter
of a mile sstern, but rapidly picking up.
When the Vig,lant ran for the mark it
blew whole sea breeze, and she luffed
around in fine style, hauling down her
balloon j,b top all as she went in stays
Once around in the port tack she again
hoisted an intermediate jib topsail and
stood for the finish on close reach. The
ValkyTie did Likewise, but set her baby jb
topsail instead alter lufIing round. Follow
ing is the official time of the turn;
vigilant. vakyrie..........i.5s.5 SO
From this it can be seen that it took the
Vigilant just hours,25 minutes 80 seconds
ami the Valkvrie 2 hours, 33 minutes, 80
| seconds to make the run of II miles to lee
ward-a difference of minutes, q seconds,
which was really the gain of the Vigilant,
as the time of both was practically
| IL. % 90.
| The course from the outer turn had no
windward work in it at all. but was really
close reach, as both boats had the wind a
little forward of the beam, il having canted
TO the southwest. 1t was n straight sail in
smooth sea, and both yachts made re-
marksbly quick time. very few of the ex-
cursion boats being able to keep up with
them. The yachts logged at least IL knots.
anil the Valkyrie showed herself speedier
boat on this point of sailing.
! There was not change of sail on the
reach home, and 1t was evident that the
| Engtshnan was rapidly gaining on the
Yankee and woul have overtsken her had
the course been little longer. Though
the official records show only gain of 80
seconds for the Valkyrie, she gained at
least three minutes.
| But after the Vigilant had crossed the
line the wind suddenly died away from a
fresh breeze to a light sir, 80 that the three
minute gain of the English cutter was re-
duced to 80 seconds within distance of one
fourth Of mile.
| Though the day vas perfect and the
American boat gained an honest victory, il
was not q steady wind from start to finish
and therefore not a fair test Of the two
boats.
| Some facts we're ascertsined, however,
and they are thst in light airs the Visiiani
is speedier than the valkyre, but in fresh
breeze and in a reach the English boat il
superior. This makes it fair TO presume
that the valkyrie may win Mondays race
| if the wind is steady and strong.
Following is the Official summary OF the
race:
Course Il miles to ieeward or windwsrd and re
! Elap.ed Cor.
start. Finish. time. time.
tslkyrie. 3abs 2; 4.iZ.23 4.II2
| Nigilsnt. 330.47 s0j47 1884
| oUrEE sAEK.
| SiEisBt .......f.505e yalkgrie. IS. 4
NigisBt wilma Corrected time, m. A. Sc.
TINE WHOLE WORLD
l A.