The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-05
THE GREAT YACHT RACE
THEsTRUG6BE BETwEENES0L/"D
AND <MEKYcx To BEGfs TO-DAY.
Description Of tho Two Yachts-Condiffons
Under which the Race VIII DO
saiied-Pisnty Of Wind.


| companied by rain.
Excursionists may be a trne incon-
yenienoed by such conditions. but yacht
men fear only calm. Wind and rain
have no terrors for them.
The Vslkyrie was foated again to-day at
Erie basin and was officially measured
TO decide her time allowance. The Eng
lIsh boat has been carefully measured
by her designer, Mr.. Watson, and Rat
sie. the sail maker, who have expressed
the opinion that the Vigilant will nave
10 concede about a minute In time. This
will be decided only when John Hyslop,
the official measurer Of the New YORK
Yacht Club. has nun his tape over ooth
boats.
Captain Cranfeid, Of the Yalkyrie. says
that he Ia quite ready for the race. and
Is perfectly satisfied with the condition
Of his boat.
The same word comes from the sound
where the Vigilant has been taking her
preparatory exercise. Mr.. 1selin and Cap
tain Hansen have both expressed them
selves as perfectly satisfied with the
Vigilaut's condition.
Sup rintendont Byrnes has taken per
sonal charge u II, police arrangements
and expects to keep the course clear for
the racers
The tatkyrte.
Dunraven's yncht. the Valkyrie. Is gen
orally regarded by English experts as the
vessel best fitted to compete for the
Americas cup She is the work Of G.. l..
Watson, probably the ablest Of English
designers, and was built at the yard OF
David Henderson e. Co. i'm Glasgow. She
Is OF composite build, $3.50 feet on the
wnter line. 120 feet over all, 20 feet beam,
has a sail spread OF i0.W feet. and. &C
cordinR 10 yacht racing rules. measures
1910 tons She has n draught or about
le feet Her lead. which weighs In the
neighborhood OF 20 tons. Is carried well
forward with a gradual rise. while art
she is finely tapered In the way OF nm
down 10 the heel. giving her tremendous
grip. The spar and sail plans are very
larre her boom being over ninety feet
long. The mast L. stepped well forward,
and all her propelling power Will be In
the mRinsail. Her bow spirit only projects
outward about sixteen feet. She Is COM
manded By Capt. William Cranfield, con-
sidered one Of the best shippers in Eng
land. and since the opening Of the yacht
ing season has made a most brilliant
record In English waters. Out OF twenty
three starts the Valkyrle won eleven
first and four second prizes. and WAS
second In the race for the Town cup OF
The vigiinnt.
When Dunraven's challenge was finally
accepted by the New York Yacht Club
orders were given for four cup defenders
Under the present plan Of competition It
is decided by preliminary races what
yacht shall have the honor OF defending
the cup. OF the four yachts built for the
purpose the Vigilant has been selected
for this years race, the Colonia held I'm
reserve TO take its place should any ac-
cident befaIl. Both the Vigilant and Co
lonla are the work Of Nathaniel G.. Her
reshof. who is now easily the foremost
Of American yacht designers. He is still
a young man, comes OF a family OF IA
nous sailors and ship builders, and first
gained general recognition with the Glori-
ana, the crack forty-siK foot yacht OF the
season Of 1891
The Vigilant. Mr.. Herreshofrs master
creation this year, Is closely modelled af-
ser the Wasp with notifications due 10
tho Increased proportionate beam. Her
dimensions are as follows; Length over
all, lA; load water line IS feet beam
% feet, and drsught OF water ID feet.
She is deep centre board boat; her boom
IL little short OF 100 feet and her san
power is very great. She IS an experiment
In many weys. She not only carries q
- NA4'NhOND run pidll, pul hHc u pldlcu |
with Tobin bronze up TO her top streak, |
which is Of steel. Tobin bronze, It is
will not rust even In salt water, |
and by polishing II smooth surface can |
be obtained. which will be like glass |
Tobin bronze does not foul readily, which |
Is another advantage, and II II should |
prove succescful, rs applied 10 the Nlgl- |
liant, II will probably come into general |
use fer racing boats. The rig OF the Vlgi- |
liant Ii handsome. Her spars are almost |
perfect, and her sails are very fne The |
Nigilant has proved herself a very fast |
sailor, especially 10 windward. Speed is t
gained by an easy bilge, and stability by /
q great beam and low lead. The design |
er SEEMS TO have aimed to produce in |
her deep center board Of the very best |
type. and thus far mis- Efforts appear to |
have been entirely successful.
The Nigilant ~ owned by New York |
syndicate. headed by G. Oliver Iselin |
who has had active charge of her since |
she went into commission. Her sailing |
master is Captain William Hansen.
Conditions Of rho Face.
The conditions agreed upon by Lord |
Dunraven and the Americas Cup Com |
mittee are as follows:
The racing rules, time allowance and /
system Of measurement OF the New |
York Yacht Club shall govern, with the /
proYiso that any excess of load water
line length over eghty-flve feet shall be
counted double In calculating the sailing |
length, and also that the load water line
length shall not exceed ss7 feet.
Best three out Of five races, outside
OF headlands, over courses each thirty
nautical miles I'm length and with a time
limit OF six hours.
The nrst third and NTH races shall
be TO windward or TO leeward and re-
turn. The second and fourth races shall
be around an equilateral triangle, one
leg (and the first. II the wind permit)
being 10 windward.
One day shall intervene between zach
racing day. A race postponed or not
finished within the time limit shall be
decided before the next race in the series
Is taken up
The races will be started off Sandy
Hook Lightship. the preparatory signal
being made at a quarter past eleven A. NJ.
and the start from a single gum at
twenty-five minutes past eleven. But
II on the day OF race TO windward
or leeward the course cannot be aid
from the lightship then the race Will be |
started at about quarter 10 twelve from |
some point further out TO TEA.
The regatta committee shall have dts
cretionary power TO declare the race OF
In case Of fog They may also. on sc-
count Of other weather conditions, post-
pone the start or declare the race or
for the day. provided that both yachts
assent
In case Of serious accident to either
yacht prior 10 the starting signal uhe