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


There was not whitecap In sight and scarcely
bubble on the fretful wrinkles that the wint
stirred m Nevertheless the Vigilant begaI
to recover her lost ground. She had at one
time been at least half n mile behind and IL
the lee OF tho mug hunter. She closed this
the barnacles said. to a quarter OF milo, ant
there for q time she hung. and the yach
sharpe said TO one another that 1t was rlRh
pretty and interesting II not an exciting race
THE RACERS Oct CLOSER.
Az time passed the space between the racers
seemed TO narrow onoe more II Interesting
then to the yacht sharrs. 1t became really
thrilling to the en- >psiastic patriots. 1t was
such n lovely day that every one could enjoy
tho spectacle without the usual distress oil
seasickness, and it needed no trained eve to
see how close tho racers were getting to each
other.
At last whom. saytwo miles, of the beach and
at about 2:58 O'Clock the Valkyrio tackled
about and headed Of shore on the starboard
tack. To the mass OF spectators who were
astern and In the lee OF the racers she seemed
TO cross the vigilant's bow. although. In fact.
she had been ahead and to windward all the
time.
She held on to her course thus for one min
ute, but the yigilant would not follow her The
shore. apparently. and 80 che Nalkyrie came
about again. and stood in on the port tack for
the beach also. the two boats being thereafter
about beam to beam. with the Figilant perhaps
seven lengths down to leoward.
A big black coaster had been noted for some
time in the south heading UP the beach. As
she came along II seemed to the spectators
that she would surely interfere with the
racers but soon after the Nalkyrie turned to
tho westward again 1t was seen that no dan
ger need be apprehended. The steamer was
obliged to cross their bows-she could not
head OF to sea and 60 through the flock OF ex-
eursion boats there-but she did 1t at dis
tance that caused no harm.
Houses and windmills and trees and piers
and shadows began to appear distinctly out
Of the dark mass that had been seen as the
Jersey beach below tho Highlands By 3:05
o'clock the sharps began to wonder how much
further In they would stand. especially as
there seemed no i'm provement In the wind In
shore. For more than an hour they had held
to the westward. and the sand OF the beach
would stop them soon. At 3:12 o'clock the
vslkyrie would stand 1t no longer. and around
she went.
Tho sharps observed that it took about ten
seconds to get her sails full on the starboard
tack when she turned. About three minutes
later having run through the Nalkyrie's wake
and some lengths on toward shore the Vigil
liant turned out to sea also. But it took her
nearly twice as long TO get her sails full. and
directly the turn was made the sharps said
that the cutter was once more getting the
better Of 1t.
Less than four minutes later the Valkyrie
Arned once more toward shore and held there
for q little over two minutes when away she
went again out to sea. The Nigilant was still
pointing out to sea- but when the Nalkyrie
came back to that course the Nigilant's skip
per turned his vessel in toward the land. and
thus they stood on different tacks-ths Yankee
toward the land on the port and the cutter
'our minutes.
.. OUT TO SEA AGAIN.
Then the valkyrie turned back toward the
and and the ViGilant, q minute later. turned
but to sea- It was O game Of what the yacht
sharps called splitting tacks and it was q right
game to watch from the excursion
boats.
1t was the more Interesting as picture for
It's background OF the green shore and tho lit
tie glimpses OF idle breakers to be seen there
ON the sandy beach. To the people on shore
the spectacle Of the two racers. like some sort
Of tall white nautical dancers crossing to and
fro at the head Of the widespread thrones Of
the excursion shipping. must have been mag
nifcent.
However. by 2:35 o'clock the two yachts
were found standing out to sea on the star
board tack. with the ViGilant nearly a mile
away. and somewhat on the lee bow OF the
yalkyrie. The sharps estimated that she was
1t that time actually half mile at least be-
hind the Valkyrie In their race for the turn.
Ufytlo al-t ,>ya hat
out large jibtopsail. and II the sharps could
give guess she began at once to pick up bit
without easing Off to leeward. She seemed to
have tired Of her generosity to her rival The
Valkyrie had had a good deal the best Of the
lacking inshore. but the enthusiastic patriots
began to tell the rest OF the people that now
was the time to watch the slick Yankee. They
Iaid she had Just been playing with the black
hulled cutter. To the barnacles, however. 1t
was still anybodys race. with the chances in
iavor OF tho cutter.
But the barnacles had by this time come to
think that a race might be made within the
time limit. At 3:45. or two hours from the
start. the, stakeboat was In sight. though hull
Town. -Four hours yet remained In which to
reach the homo line The breoze held very COM
'orttngly steady. The two yachts still stood
,ut TO sea. aud tho shore objects were be-
coming quito lnulStlhct TO tne eve, and Yet the
Eind carried the racers along as we'll as at any
line during the race. That it was carrying
he Vigilant rather better than it had done be-
ore the large jibtopsail was set was finally ad-
nitted by the barnacles. But they would not
admit even then that she could recover her
ost ground before reaching the stakeboat.
DIsCoURTEoUs YACHT.
At 4 o'clock there was no great change in the
relative positions OF the boats orin the wind
It was fair beat with the sails lust rap full
man was seen to 60 out to the Vigiant's bow
'prit end and stop there a minute as II taking
} good look at the eyes OF the rigging. Then
he hagship's consorts and, for that matter.
everybody else. began to show evaporation
over the doings Of the skipper OF little white
yacht with sails furled and in tow OF
/ tug.
This gentleman sailor had stopped his vessel
ust to the windward Of the track over which
he yachts were racing. To many spectators
he seemed to be fair in the Valkyrie's course
He was not so bad as that but In spite OF pro-
onged noisy protest the schooner held her