The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-08
American Cup Defender Sails Away
From the Valkyrie in the
First Race.
The Feat Taken as Indicating the
Superiority OF the Center
Boarder.
A Magnificent Contest From = NAva
Point Of Visw-ScarceIy EnOugh
Of y Breszo.

u IuE vino tue hueHlCAH cup ueIcHutT
Vigilant crossed the line st Sandy Hook
light ship At $3.50 this afternoon, winner in
the d,st of the international races for the
Americas cup. The Valkyrie arrived home
almost eight minutes later, and both were
at once taken in tow by their xespe otive
tenders snd hurried TO anchorage off Bay
Ridge. II was q magnificent contest from
| a naval point of view. and demonstrated
| for the day At least. the superiority of the
| center bonrder over the cutter. as we'll as
the superior yaehtsmanship OF the men who
handled the English boat. One thing only
was lacking, and that was wind. Mover
moro than light wind prevailed, snd some
| times IL was sea 'cely more than puff.
Whom the oonmittee in charge of the race
decided that the course should begin with q
leo run TO the east northeast, before a west
no thwest wind. the signal WAS run up to
announce the fact. This was at II q. m.
The skip, ers in chsrQs Of tho racers having
accepted the conditions. weather and judG-
ment of the committee. began to skirmish
for favorable position above the line. The
preparatory gun was fred sharp at 11:15.
and when the starting gun WAS touched off
there was a question of about 1JO feet be-
tween the two yachts. the Vnlkyrie having
the lead. The wind was blowing at the
rate of about seven miles an hour and the
cutter kept on increasing her lead. At the
| ond of the mile she was good two lengths
| ahead.
The Valkyrie increased her lead at least
one more length during the hrst two miles.
From that point up to the distance Of four
and half miles the Vigilant held her own
Then change came. Suddenly the ViRi-
liant caught slant of wind, although the
Valkvrie Was not touched by it, and within
fifteen minutes the ViRilant was fully a
quarter of a mile in tho lead. In another
only held her lead, but increased 1t to q full
mile before she had sailed five miles
About this time She wind hauled away
round to the south southwest, necsssisating
some changes in sails.
The Valky ie rom aimed at her mile dis
tance and could not gain au inch. Half an
hour later the wind shifted again and once
moie the spinnakers wsre rugged. The
Valkytie could not improve her position,
but on the contrary. rathe, dropped off.
The Vigiiant went on ahead and did NOT
stop until the end of the outward jou, y.
The Amsi loan boat made the turn of the
outer mark amid great enthusiasm. The
wind WAS now west, and IL became = ques-
| ton OF long reach. 1t was on the reach
that the sutser was supposed to be ct her
best During the roach. however. with all
things equal. the Vigilant actually gained
on the cutter.
There was another shift in the wind and
the boats were both comrelIel to sail
closely to the wind. Tbs Valkyrie GER
tainly appeared to gain ground. The dis
| tnnce that the Valky,ie overhauled the
| Vigilant was considerable. but all the time
| she was sagging off to leeward, while the
center board was holding her head At the
wind. The kalkyrie caught slight wind
ami picked up probably a quarter Of a
mile. Up to the end OF the course theIe
was no incident. The Vigilant CROSSED the
line on the same tack. while the Valky lie.
having saaRed away TO leeward. had 10 90
about before she could Q oss.
Al the home line the fotilla Of excursion
ists formed = crescent. Thousands OF
spectators bHavsd immersion and clam
bored to every point of vantage. They
| showed Joy in countenance as the Vigilapt
crept steadily ncareY the swinginR III b sship
Their JOY burst bonds as the brave little
ViRilant dipped gracefully through the
waves and long before The screaming
| whistles told of . royal battle ended, n
hundred thousand tongues had p oolaimed.
IN true American record. that as yet ths
queen Of center boardsts and cutters WAS
hers and has still speed and strength TO
bear the name of cup defender in rsalitv.
The regatta committee OF tha New Yovk
Yacht club gave ous the following table OF
figures: tart. actual time. ViRilsnt,
1l:25:30. Valkyris l1:25:2b; turning to outer
malk, ViRilant l:50:5U. Vslkvrle 1:4S:h6;
finish. Vigilant S:3O:47. VAlkyrie 3:3S:23;
elapsed time, Viailant, 4:05:27. Valkyrie.
4:1B:23; corrected time. Nigilsnt. 4:05.27,
Valkyris 4:ll:35.
Thus tho ViRilans won by Eve minutes
| and TO Eight seconds on corrected and
official time. II will be seen that the Val
| kyrie gained or the St etoh home, rs she
was eight minutes and six seconds behind
| whom the outer mark was turned and seven
minutes and thirty six seconds 1T the finish
| in actual blme.