The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-12

yalkyrie certainly o better Of the cats
paw but for some reason. at q little more tina
4.3o O'Clock. she headed in toward ehor
again on the port tack. leaving the ViRilan
still standing out TO sea on the stnrboard
They were splitting tacks once more
The longer they held thus the turtle
they got apart. OF course. No one could tel
which was gaining or losing. but the patriot
asserted that tho cnttcr had lost her wind go
ing in shore. while the viGilant held hers b
continuing to stand out to sea. But no on
could tell Just how this was. nor was any on
| able to Judge better when. at about Az
o'clock, the valkyrie came back to tho star
| board tack and held out to sea- After six min
| utes tho Si2iant went about and headed IL
shore. and then everybody was on nettles t.
see how the two would look when they got TO
Rether again.
| As they drew toward the meeting the wint
| dropped noticeably. and the delay made the
| excitement especially on the fleet that wal
out at sea. tremendous. Surely the two were
going to pass closer imam before on this race
| and the patriots began to catch their breatf
with tremulous hope. moment later q
blooded skipper away inshore. who could
squint fair over the valkyries stern
was seen to throw wide open his
whistle valve. and the roar came waiting out &c
sea, whereat the patriots snatched of theii
hats with q whoop and the shippers OF the
whole fleet paved the air to find their whistle
cords. The Vigilant had actually crossed the
Valkyres bow. It had been silent mob on
that fleet so far but now almost everybody
howled ecstatically.
whirling down his wheel the Yankee skip
per turned his sloop once more out to sea on
the starboard tack. and found himself n good
three lengths at least on the cutters weather
bow.
But the British skipper would not stand that
long. The Yankee tackled out to sea at 40
o'clock. but he had only settled to the course
when the cutter went about and headed in
shore. She had lost by going In shore before.
but he would fain try it again. and so he held
for four minutes. when. being too far away for
any one to Judge accurately how much he was
behind the Yankee. he came about and headed
out to sea on the starboard tack as the Wig
liant was.
But while mono could guess the gains or
losses. It was tolerably plain that for some Ave
or six minutes the Vigilant had the better start.
and then the Valkyrio got 1t. and so with the
black hull Of the stakeboat rising plainly into
view they held fairly equal course. and so they
stood with dropping breeze while the feet
Jagged on behind
NIGHT COMES on.
The Gun dropped down behind a long black
cloud that stretched across the western sky.
and seemed to turn its smoky hues to flames
The shadowy blue hills below were flooded
over with luminous golden mist
A narrow trail Of red light led from every
eye across the dark green sen into the vistas
beyond the hills. From behind its glowing
veil the sun came out o great red ball that
slowly sank through the luminous vistas down
behind the blue The glare above famed up
for a moment and then faded into shades Of
twilight. The day was done.
But the race was still ON. Hardly had tho
white lights Of the Naveaink lighthouse flashed
from their dark background than the vigilant
came around and tackled inshore. She could
not possibly turn the stake. which was at
least mile away. without a board inshore.
and preferred to make 1t then. She went
about at 5:25 o'clock by the watches OF the
sharps. and so she stood for over eight min
utes. when she came about to the starboard
tack once more and stood out to sea for the
mark.
The masthead and the side lights OF the
feet were glowing now brighter and brighter
on every side. Never had yachtsmen sailed In
such o race by night before. but now they
needs must do 1t soon. At 5:43 the Valkyrie.
which held steadily out to sea during this
time. came about to make her needed board
inshore. and the VigIlant crossed her bow a
good half mile away. The turn WAS not yet
made. and only a trfe over two hours for the
run home remained. Could it be rcae?
Some Of the blooded shippers thought not
and turned their steamers away for home. but
the mass. with their vessels scattered in
long line across the course the yachts. must
follow when around. awaited the turn.
A 40 the yigilant's skipper found that he
must make another board nshore. and did go
The spectators began to wonder whether her
skipper could find the mark he sought in
the gathering gloom. A number OF the excur-
sion steamers raced on to gather beyond the
turn. Their lights glimmering above the sea
with only the suggestion OF hulls round about
made an enchanting picture.
vIGILANT FIRST AT THE MARX.
The yachts became but shadows In the dull
gray mists. 1t began to look as II the Vigil
liant had mistaken the mark and stood too far
out to sea. Then the sharps said that the VAL
kyrie was away to leeward.
string OF light sappeared on the stakeboat
The Vigilant was all right. after all. Her dark
sails hooded out Of sight the lights OF first ono
steamer and then another beyond the turn
until at last tho string at the stakeboat was
also covered.
A roar OF the nearby whistles told the rest
of the fleet that the stake was rounded Never
was such a turn in such race seen before.
For want OF light the turn was made known by
sound only.
Then the yachtsmen waited for the dimly
seen Valkyrie. They found her all right. too.
She came up to the turn as the Vigilant had
done. and was only about seven minutes bs.
hind her. although in the darkness she had
seemed much further away.
With the aid OF night glasses the yachtsmen
saw the shadow forms OF tho racers change
somewhat. and they guessed that both yachts
were getting their spinnakers set. while the
Vigilant got up very large jibtopsai-per-
haps the balloon. The sharps were not accus-
toned to watching races by dim starlight and
could not be certain. They guessed that the
Valkyrie kept her headsails as they were. save
that the forostaysail came down.
NO RACE
Then they guessed it didn't make any differ
encc what either skipper did with his sails so
far as the result of the meeting was concerned.