The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-08

began to walk away with the mainaail hal
lizards. Al leach and luff began to stretch. her
tug came about and headed into the blight OF
the bay toward the oyster float This move
mont set the excursionists wondering what 1t
was for. until the yacht sharps said she was
heading into the eye OF the wind. 30 that the
wind could not bag out tho canvas and pull
against the men. The sloop's skipper was GO
Ing to stretch the iuff Of her till It soueaked.
In other worda
Then the British tars began to run aloft and
ride down the hRlliards In the fas hion that has
been familiar to old-times exoursionists ever
since Sir Richard Suttons Genesta camo aftor
the Americas Cup. They got the peak Of It
high In air first OF all. and then up with the
throat till It was on level with the peak.
after which they mad good pull on both.
Then their tug followed the Vigilant up into
the wind to get the wind out OF the sail. when
1t. too. was thoroughly we'll stretched.
Tho movements on both yachts were de-
liberate. and when the sails had apparently
been set to the taste OF the most fnicky then
there was another pull all around to get the
last inch OF the halliards.
BY the time the mainsail was on the Valkyrie
the Yankee had her fore staysail up The
Britishers were next set to lacing their beauti-
full club topsail to It's club. The jib Of the VAL
kyrie had been already run up in stops. There
was man In the cross trees and another on
the throat OF the mainsail. ready for emergen-
cies. as the point Of the Hook was passed. A
small bat rowboat was lowed under the
stern. while Designer Watson. in blue coat.
white trousers and bareheaded. stretched
out comfortably on the deck with his feet on
the rail. My Lord Dunraven. dressed wholly
In blue. stood about the deck with his hands
behind him. Both designer and Lord looked
curiously at the press boat as 1t passed. APP
parently having much tho same feeling that
they had whom they FIRST saw the pictures Of
their craft in the New York papers. and said
oh. say" In wonder and amusement.
SIZING UP THE WEATHER.
On the white Yankee sloop. when she was
overhauled. the mainsail. lib. and forestaysail
set. dozen men comfortably stroked their
chins as they sat on boom amidships. An
Other dozen were getting the club topsail
ready to 60 aloft. and. somewhat in advance
OF the British sailors. they got that sail in it's
place. going up into the wind to do so. She.
too. Of course. had men aloft 10 help the work.
There was everything on both yachts to please
the amateur critics. and nothing to find fault
with.
But on a general view Of tho sea It was
found not quite az fawless as were the racers:
from an artistic point Of view 1t was doubtless
well nigh perfect. The water sparkled and
danced lazily. There was dreamy haze that
softened the lines Of horizon and seashore.
There was great feet Of white winged coast
ers sailing away with the off-shore breeze.
There was huge black bark with her yards
squared and her sails duttering. There was
great liner ploughing her way into port. q
magnificent emblem Of nautical power. Better
yet, there were the two magnificent champions
OF the East and the West the Valkyrie and the
Vlgilant. with such spreads Of canvas aloft as
excited the wonder and admiration Of every
one.
Nevertheless. the old-time sports began to
Rrumble before half the outside space to the
lightship was covered. It was Just too fine for
fun for them however It might appear to tho
landlubbers on the excursion fleet The wind
was by no means fat and there was reason
to hope that 1t might breeze up bit later on.
But how could barnacle be content when.
drag as It would, the zephyr could not as much
as tear open the crssts Of the in-rolling easter
~ swells2 There was nothing Tor 1t. so far az
the barnaces were concerned. but to properly
onathemize the luck and make tho best of 1t
with such aids to comfort as were to be found
In the lockers cared for by the steward.
AvALKYR1E DAY.
Meantime there was one set Of barnacles
that viewed the scene with unmixed pleasure.
and that was the crew OF the Valkyrie. In
every race Of recent years the British have
come to port hoping for breeze that would
send down topmasts and have found the con-
ditions that yachtsmen call ladies' day
weather. But this year the case was exactly
opposite. Mr.. Watson. in designing the VAL
kyrie. had produced boat for gentle
breezes and gentle seas. whilo. by
some fatality. the defender Of the Cup
the Vigilant was boat that at
Newport had been left twenty minutes ON q
still day by o competitor Of acknowledged less
speed In ordinary weather. Further than
that. in the luke race OF Thursday the sloop
had been beaten minute milo while stand
ing down the Jersey coast in light air.
Tho excursion fleet seemed o little late In
arriving. probably because the rain of the
early morn had held back the excursionists.
but when they came. tho delight OF the spec
tators In the smoothness OF tho sea and the
glorious beauties OF tho day was toned down
by the omnous words OF the yachting sharps
that this was Yalkyrie day.
The wind. when the racers reached the VI
cinity Of the fat red hulk called the Sandy
Hook Lightship from which the start was to
be made was about west by south. II It held
thus the course must be laid out along tho
Long Island coast. and the yachts must get
away before the wind. instead Of beating out
into 1t and sailing back before It. as most
yachtsmen would prefer to have them do. 1t
WAS as fair for ono racer as for the other. but
what was wanted in the interest OF good sport
was a-plenty OF w!ndward work and steady
breeze to do 1t In. II only the wind would
hold west By south all day 1t would be all right
but every one had doubts about 1t doing so.
JUST BEFORE THE START.
And so. between conflicting emotions-the
admiration for the beauties OF the day. the
feeling OF relief at finding that there was really
q wind that would carry tho boats over the
course. the fear that wind would fall or shift.
aud the patriotic apprehension that overy-
thing was Just right for the enemy-rhe spec
tators had plenty to talk about while waiting
for the hour Of starting to come.
On reaching the lightship the racers cast of
their tugs. and with booms fat aft and only
otn lo nd ha aat thAv hao %