Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-19
A GREAT YACHTlNG YEAR.
An American Boat Completes In England
an English One Here.
london Graphic.l

The present season is certain TO be ono
of the most notable in our yachting annals,
both from the national aud international
point of view. The fact OF the Prince OF
Wales having hoisted his flag last May ON
a racing yacht OF the frst-class caused
general bracIng up in Yachting circles from
the Thames all round TO the Clyde. This
is the first time that mis- Roval HIg hness
has had o racing yacht specially designed
and built TO his own order, aud IL would
seem TO indicate that he means to throw
himself heartily into sport SO emInently
befitting his position IN this the foremost
OF maritime nations.
So far as the season has gone IL would
be hazardous to predict which one OF the
three leading yachts of the first-class that
honor will ultimately fall TO, directly or
iuferentially. The contests, on the Clyde
especially, have shown the Satanlta, the
britannia. and the Valkyrle to be pretty
much on level of excellence. the slightest
mistake on the part of one inevitably
giving the pass TO the Others. IL seems
certain that the Satanlta Is the fastest
in reaching and running. but or course,
her superior length may partly ac-
count for this. IL seems no less certain
that when it comes TO turn to windward
the Britannia and the ValkyrIe have the
hest of their distinguished rival. Perhaps
il is not premature TO say that IN moderate
weather the Vslkyrie has shown herself 10
be superior to the Britannia, and that IN
alI respects she has proved herself fully
the equal of both the Britannia and the
Satanita. Thus she may be regarded as
eminently fitted 10 represent the high
water mark of British yachting ID the
contest tor the American cup.
Three such yachts of the tirst-ciass
would suffice to make any season notable,
a.. .,ata haya h1paA
centrate public interest thisyear in yachts
of the frst-clsss to the exclusion of almost
all Others. The presence OF the Nayahoe
in our waters will give to the principal
events q significance which they would
not otherwise possess, while the presence
of the new Vaikyrie in American waters
promises TO make the TRANSATLANTIC yacht
ing season quite as memorable as our own.
IL is happy circumstance that there IS
10 be a eisatfsntic as we'll as a TRANSATLANTIC
international naumachy this year. tor had
the international rivalry been confined to
the America cup contest the British ele-
ment would have labored under a distinct
disadvantages. When the challenging yacht
Of one country has 10 be subjected To the
nrelirninary stress of an Atlantic voyage
there is q presumption Of advantage in
favor of yachts that nave never left home
waters. From the International point OF
view. therefore. advantages are even; and
honors will be easy should tho valkyrie,
for instance, fail 10 bring back the Ameri-
can cup and the Nsvahoe fail to carry OF
the Victoria cup.
Neither of these representative yachts
can complain Of being opposed BY too
many rivals, for il the one IS called
upon TO show q clean pair OF heels to
three or four picked racers the other has
to do the same with two OF three. There
is thus . clear issue " on the cards be-
tween British and American nautical
skill, and the duplex character OF the con-
test adds TO the Hast with waicn the