Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-10-12

blue skies and prospect of a wind that
would keep yachts and people from getting
into the doldrums greeted the eyes of yachts
men and patriotic citizens yesterday morn
ing. Heavy rains during the night had
ceased at dawn and by O'Clock hardly q
cloud was to be seen. Thousands OF citizens
who have caught the yachting craze left
their homes and their every day occupations
and embarked on all manner of things that
float in order to see the first of the intcrna-
tional races, postponed from Thursday. They
went on big boats If they could afford big
prices for tickets: if not. they trusted them
selves to very small craft to venture outside
of Sandy Hook
The men, for the most part, wore yacht
ing caps and looked nautical. The women
wore blue costumes as n rule and many of
them had caps to match. All the prophets
said there would be race and no mistake,
rs the wind was getting around to the
northwest, from which point the weather
bureau says gale is due.
Last Thursdays experience. though it
ended i'll hukc, demonstrated the fact that
the two yachts are well matched and the cup
defender will have no walk-ovcr this year.
Yachting sharps have said this all along,
and some of them have predicted victory
for the British boat. hut the great American
public, basing its opinion ON former Ameri-
ran victories. and inspired by feelings of
patriotism. had confidently expected to see
the Nalkyrie beaten with scarcely an effort.
To-day they went down the bay ackuowl-
pdgng that the Yankee boat had u worthy
antagonist and anxious for good wind
And II Chance to be in al the Finish.
The sporting men who had made bets at
almost any odds on the Nigilant were in
oil 10 ba of ,,lpc
race increased the interest in the event
The crews on board the Nalkyre and the
Nigilant, which lay at Bay Ridge since the
huke of Thursday, We're early astir. There
were "a thousand things to be booked after
these things had to be done
thoroughly and well. no time lost
Earl Dunraven of the Nalkyrie showed his
men a good example by getting early on
Heck and he, Captain Craufeld Designer
Watson and Saimoker Ratsey We're kept
busy in directing them to the preparations
for the big race.
On the Nigilant the same activity was per
ceived, Mr.. Iselin, Capt. Hanson and Nat
HerreshOff directing matters Everything
was i'll readiness on both the boats nj $50
o'clock. The tug Pulver passed the Naky-
RE line while the tug Commander did the
same service for the Niglant and after
Wtlu bOlll RACERS were SpttulIH Ioi iut
Sandy Hook lightshp, the starting point,
there to begin their great contest for the
America ; cup.
Down where the homecoming ocean grey
hounds enter the first channel which leads
them into the port of New York close to
the big red hulk known as the Sandy Hook
lightship, the boats carrying the spectator:
of the race gathered for the sport.
WbHa ha Txyo SinoIa SticI.ers
with their towering masses of canvas:
cruised about trying their sails, the steam
boat captains manouvred to give their pas
sengers the best possible view of the start
In the crush of boats the big ocean steamers
threatened several times to grind some of the
smaller craft out of existence. The yacht:
were given more room than on Thursday
At II O'Clock the scene at the lghtship Wa
an imposing one The excursion boat
seemed drawn to the vicinity as 10y mag
net. and masSng together like floating dwell
lings in blocks left a wide avenue between
for the racers. The decks were black will
people and on the Roanoke, Guyandott'
and other steamship venturesome passengers
climbed up into the rigging to get better
view.
At II the flagship May took position
about 100 yards to the northwald of SANDY
Hook lghtship to establish the line. a
OBJ the signal was given 10 ''Steer east h,
south course The wind blew from tn
west.
When the starting gun sounded the boat
started apparently simultaneously. TIL
start was the most beautiful ever seen il
American waters
As soon rs the yachts We're well clear o
the line, they began to pay close attention
tp I hf trim of tbpi s1i1s Tho Vail, ia
being Off the weather quarter of the Vigilan
gave her immense advantage. for she sho
ahead and for time il looked aSthough tn
American was beaten boat. At the end O
five minutes the EnglShman wa, fully tw
lengths ahead apparently gaining ever
moment
About l2;l5 the wind began TO haul t
southwark. bringing the breeze a little t
the starboard quarter. The Niglant contin
ucd to gain 50 rapidly that the NalkyTie st
her spnnakcr again. Just as she began t
pick up the Yankee sloop set her spinnake
and held long lead. Toward | O'Clock
just as the turning mark hove in sight, I'll
wind became so light that both yachts
seemed Almost Dead in the Water.
At 20 the wind again hauled to soutl
ward and the Vigilant took in her Spinni
ker, followed by the Nalkyrie five mnut,
later The wind freshened considerably
hauling more to southwark, The Englis
boat, about a quarter Of mile astern, wa
rapidly picking up. The official time Mt tn
curn was--Nigilant, l:50;j0; Valkyri'
1850
The course from the outer turn WI
straight sailing and smooth sea and bot
yachts made remarkably quick time ,loggin
at least Il knots The Nakyre ihowe
herself n speedier boat ON this point of sal
ing. There was not change of sail on ii
reach home. but it was evident the IInglisl
man was rapidly gaining on the Yankee al
would have overtaken her had the cour
been little longer.
In light airs the Nigant is speeder ths
the Nalkyrie in a fresh breeze and
reach the English boat is superior. Thong
the day was perfect and the American bot
gained an honest victory, the wind ~
tickle from start to finish and therefore
was not a fair test of the two boats. III
official corrected time for the course of