The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-10-06
VIGILANT AND VALKYRIE.
Neither Graft Able to Finish Within the
Time Limit Allowed.

San,-fared each other today for the
Americas cup. The Valkyrie and the
Vigiiant represented respectively the TWO
nations. The indications IN the morning
were that the day would be clear, though
the early morning was foggy. AT the nrso
dawn of day great crowds of people turned
their noses Atlantic ward, resolved to see
the race for the championship or the
world. Everything steamable which
could GET under way was utilized to con-
rey the enormous crowds to the sandy
Hook light ship, where the start was to be
made. Some of the steamers charged s.
oer ticket for ''standidg room only"
About the Battery, Fort Wadsworth and
the highlands of Navesink thousands who
were not able to get away on a steamer or
Ealing vessel gathered to witness the
srapd procession of large and small craft
laden with excursionists bound for SANDY
Hook. The police arrangements were ad-
mirable. Fifty blue coats manned The
Aurora, under command or inspector
Williams Seve tugs We're chartered 1or
extra patrol duty, to cooperate with Une
Aurora. The work mapped out for them
70 do was to render assistance In case or
any accident oil any of The numerous ex-
rursion vessels and to keep them north or
the Sandy Hook light ship. custom hohse
officers were also assigned to duty on each
excursion craft, and all the revenue cut
ters that could be spared lent manu- 10
the police work.
AT lO:3O o'clock a. IN. both yachts were
about>the sandy Hook lightship. The
haze lifted slightly, and a long procession
Of boats, loaded with excursionlsts, was
seen pouring down the bay and out past
the Hook The feet that gathered outside
the Hook WAS larger than ever before seen
Mt a Yacht race The excitement was in
tense. Both of the competing yachts
showed up finely, and there was little or
s no betting, except at even money, on the
result.
AT II O'Clock p. m. the yachts were
standing of about the line playing for po-
sltion, with the wind blowing five miles
an hour The fog had cleared slightly.
At 1880 o'clock II. IN. two guns were fired,
but the fog WAS too thick to determine IL
The yachts were preparing to start. In the
haze they could be seen moving about.
At 1l:l6 o'clock a. III. the preparatory
gun was fired, and the people began to feel
that they had not come out Tor nothing.
At l50 O'Clock a.. IN. the yachts started
over the southern course. The Figilant
crossed the line to the windward, with the
Valkyre close behind, At 11:5o O'Clock a.
NJ the Vigilant was still well to the wind
ward, but the Valkyrie appeared 30 be
closing up the gap between them. The
pointed to the prospect of there being no
race.
AT 1927 o'clock p. m. the racers were visi-
Bile some distance ahead OF the rest of the
feet. The Vigilant was leading fully
puarter OF mile. The flagship May was
rlose behind. and all about was a throng
Of pleasure crafts-500 of them it would
seem. The Nigilant seemed to be slowly
gaining At l2:40 O'Clock .. M. the wind WAS
north. with a light breeze, and the fog
clearing. The Nlgiiant was increasing her
lead. At 1850 o'clock p. m. the boats
were on the southerly course toward
Asbury park. The fog had almost cleared.
The wind was northeast. The Nalkyrle,
under a freshening breeze from the stern,
seemed to be crawling slowly up on the
American boat The wind was Slightly
Increasing.
AT 1:20 O'clock .. IN. it was reported
that the race had been declared off, but
this first report was mistake. When the
NiCiiant took in her spinnaker, hauled on
!he wind and allowed the Vaikyrie 10 come
no with her. and then turned about, al
lowing the Nalkyrie to sail past her, the
conclusion seemed inevitable that the
race had been declared Off, and SO that
fact was at once put on the wires, since
the Nigilants action was otherwise mex
plicable. The observers in the tower at
Navesink were in doubt as TO what caused
the Nigilants action, since she turned
about aud headed down DDe Jersey coast,
fally mile astern of the Nalkyrie. Both
boats were now Oh the starboard tack, with
what little wind there was eff the shore.
t2:45 O'Clock p. IN. the Naikyrie was
fast disappearing IN the log down the
Jersey shore. The Nigilant seemed to be
fully mile behind.
At 3:45 O'Clock it looked rs If the
Valkyrie had turned the stake boat. A
dispatch from Long Branch. received at
5:41 O'Clock, said that the Nigilant was
then still about half mile from the stake
boat.
AT $40 o'clock p. m. it was declared no
.ace, the yachts being unable 10 make the
'eQuired time.
Baflied by light winds the yachts were
compelled TO abandon she contest. 1t was
Just 5:l0 O'Clock IN the afternoon when
The teg took the NalkyrIe In tow, aud the
footing of whistles announced the failure.
The English cutter was then mile in adj
vance of the Nigilant, and the point from
which they had started almost six hours
before was yet miles away. Ii was a keen
disappointment to the thousands who had
gathered. The race drew the biggest
hotilla that ever sailed TO Sandy Hook to
see a yacht race.
NEW YORK, Oct 5.-The two vessels
competing tor the Americas cup repre-
sent very different principles in yacht
designing. The Nigilsut defends for her
speed on moderate displacement, extreme
~ easy lines. great stability due to eXces-
sive beam, and light weights aoft: the
Nalkyrie on narrow beam, fine entrance,
and stability obtained by a powerful bilge
very low head and light hull. The Vigil
liant for holding on the windward de-
pends on good draft. perpendicular keel
and "A center board. The Nalkyrie ex-
poets TO accomplish the same object by
means of excessive draught, a great deal
of vertical keel, and by the form of the
vessels side when keeled. Unfortunately
for y test OF different models of the same
type, there are great many things be-
sides model that contribute to the success
OF "a yacht. g.
Probably the most certain advantage
that one boat may have over another is
when strength is Obtained witt less
weight. The Nigilant shows its great adj
vantage over the Nalkyrie in the weight
Of spars, iron work and rigging. The Wig
liant has no iron work on the bowsprit's
end. Two light bands take the place of
the heavy cheek pieces and trussle trees at
the boands. The cross trees are Eghter
aud are arranged much more mechanical
ly, the thrust being taken at the center of
the mast instead OF forward CT the top
mast. The Nigilant's mast Is fully IL
inches small in diameter. Il will stand
strsighter ana sitter. although 100
square feet more sail Is carried, on account
tie Use uf the masthead Shrouds and
forward strut
1he gail is very much lighter. but
stands better, the long mast head, the
arm OF gaff spans, the position of peak
halliard blocks. all tendipg to reduce the
stress on the gaf. Taking the total
weight of spars, rigging and sails, Il Is
sste to say the Nlgilant is very much
lighter aud iu consequence has = very
great advantage.
Ia the set Of the sails there is probably