Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-10-19


fore The starting gun was fired the Valkyric
aud the Vigilant were flying for the line
close hauled on the starboarl tack, the
American boat little in the lead with the
Englishman of the weather quarter. II
was close call and for time it looked as
though the Nigilant would be over first and
handicap the Nalkyiie by half a minute.
Skipper Hansen was n little too anxious,
however, and had to pay the penalty 10y
being forced over toward the eastern end of
The line. The result was a loss to the Amer
lean boat, for she had to luf in order to
weather the May. The Englishman stood
for the line, however. every sail full and
crossed few seconds ahead and well to
windward
After crossing the line both yachts were
heeled well to lceward. The Nalkyrie was
a trifle sitter, and seemed to carry her
canvas with more ease. 1t was wise
move to have reefed nainsailS, for the sea
was increasing at every moment and the ba
romcter falling rapidly gave every ndica-
ton of an approaching storm. Both yachts
were prepared for bad weather, however.
Once over the line, the racers settled down
to their work The increased ballast attach
ed to the Nalkyrie's keel appeared to do her
world of good, for she sat right mp to
windward and in less than an hour was full
~ 800 yards Off the Americans weather
bow. Both racers were standing in-shore
toward the big hotel at Long Beach.
But the vigilant Did Not Travel
with her traditional speed and was fully
pne-quarter of point further away from
the wind.
They were punging their howsmits deep
into the sea and decks were awash more
than once. The Nigilant's people were do
ing their best to hold the wind 1t looked
as though she was being "pinched'' too
much. At 40 the Nigilant, being pretty
close in-Shore, went on the port tack and
headed in the direction of the Nalkvrie.
then standing over ON the starboard The
American boat appeared TO he in doubt
whether or not she would he able to cross
the Engishman's bow, but two minutes. 40
seconds later, the Niglant seeing that She
must pass astern of her rival went about
again and stood n-shore.
The Nalhyrie went about at 1886. fol-
lowed by the Nigilant five seconds later.
They now stood Off shore, heading about
southeast, one half south. On this leg the
Nalkyrie managed to beat up more into the
wind and one half hour later they went in
stays she had gone one hundred yards fur
Their to windward, and was outfooting the
American. Even thus early it was almost
assured that the Nalkyre in a heavy sea
and half gale, was by far the speedier
And SITTER Boat of the Two.
The mark was well on the lee quarter
of the Nalkyrie before she went ON the star
board tack at 2:1l 80 The Nigilant went
,lr ut sD.tsD an
Nalkyre and it was evident that She was
going to attempt to blanket the Valkylie if
possible. In light zyphels or strong breezes
the Nigilant might have been able to do
this but in a heavy head sea. and half II
gale of wind, the Nigilant was not I'm il. =
On this leg the yachts had the turning
mark Wrl under their lee and it was ONLY n
short time before the Nalkyrie still farther
increased her lead until she was fully one
fourth of a mile ahead. According to the
instructions, the yachts We're forced to leave
the mark ON the Starboard hand and as
they ran for it on the Starboard tack, each
had to pass to leeward and then go about to
the port tack. At 2:3l.1O the Nalkyrie
tackled ior the mark, going around it "a half
minute later.
Following is the official time of turning
the outer mark.
y. , H.M.S.
NNaglKiyrle' .2ti;ig
N'EIl"nl .:.hl:,s,
The figures show that it took the Nalkvric
2:O6;4j and the NigIant 2:OS:35 to make
the 10 mile beat to windwald IA gain of
1:)1 in favor OF the Englishman. This de
feat of the Nigilnnt was due more to the
sea than the wind, ion tie cup defender was
humping hard into each wave, and seemed
TO
Make Very Heavy Weather oft
Though the beat TO windward was excit
ing in the extreme. it was nothing compared
to the run home. The wind seemed to
ireshcn and the sea became angry and tur-
bulent Still both boats carried their flying
kites.
Scarcely had the Nullvre cleared her
skirts of the outer turn. before She set her
heavier spinnaker, big jib-top-sail and bal
loon Stay-sail. The Nigilant though tline
slower in setting her kites, carried many
more yards of canvas, and to the surprise of
the Englishncn, shook ont the reef in her
main-sai and set her large club top-sail over
the working one that She had carried alldav.
The lgilunl thOuuh almost half 3. ui la