The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-11

New York, October There will be
no postponement of tomorrow's race be-
tween the Vigilant and Valkyrie.
Oliver C. Iselin notified the New York
Yacht club early this morning that he
would probably have new bowsprit on
the vigilant before the end of today, and
this noon he said that he was confident
that everything would be in readiness
on the Yankee sloop to race tomorrow.
AS soon as it was discovered last night
that the bowsprit on the Vigilant had
been sprung, Mr.. Iselin sent
the tug Commodore to City island to
bring new bowsprit, which had been
taken there before in case of any accident.
The Commodore returned at midnight
with the new bowsprit aboard. 1t was
Immediately taken to Wintingham's
shipyard, South Brooklyn, where work
was begun on it,
Mr.. Nottingham, himself, and fifteen
other men were busy from midnight un-
til this morning over the stick.
1t had been brought to them in octagon
shape, and the edges had to be smoothed
off and the various notches made in 1T
bow of the yacht.
The old bowsprit was taken out last
evening and transferred to the shlpyard.
The ship carpenters used it as model.
There was long crack in it extending
| from the fid hole clearly fifteen feet along
| the stick.
The new bowsprit is an exact duplicate
of the old one. 1t is made of Oregon
pine and is forty-two feet in length.
When it has once been taken aboard the
| Vigilant less than two hours will be re-
| quired to set it into it's proper position.
Lord Duraven was cheerful and hope
| full this morning when seen at the hotel
| Waldorf. He frankly admitted that his
| yacht was fairly beaten in yesterdays
race, but he does not admit that the
Vigilant is the better boat under con-
| ditions favorable to the Valkyrie. The
Earl complains of the crowding of the
excursion boats about his yacht yesterday
and says they caused the Valkyrie to lose
several minutes. He does not say that his
boat, if he had not been crowded would
have won but he says it would have
been fairer and better race.
"The Vigilant was crowded some, said
| the Earl, "but my boat being behind got
decidedly the worst of it. 1t caused her
| to lose several minutes at least. If
Neither boat had been interfered with
there would have been better trial OF
their relative merits" The Earl has no
idea of giving up the race until it is won.
His yacht will be ready to sail tomorrow.
Of building a new boat and coming
back next year to try for the cup the
Earl said; II have not given the matter
a thought, but l will say that, while
/ would be glad to race again if | am
| beaten this time, I could not think of
building new boat to race under the
circumstances attending yesterday race.
Yachts cannot be properly raced where
| they are continually crowded by excur-
sion boats. shall not protest, and l
| committee of the New York yacht club
| They did everything they could to keep
the boats out of the way"
Of The races to be run the Earl said:
g / realize that have little chance now
| that have lost two, but have not given
up hope. There is still q chance. Ii the
| race yesterday had been the first should
| feel very confident of winning. l regard
| the race on Saturday as fiuke in which
| the Vigilant, by good luck, got the best
of it and won. But that race was no
| test of the speed or merits Of the two
yachts. I still regard the Valkyrie as
| the faster boat of the two in very stiff
breeze or a very limp breeze.
t"Are you prepared to express an opinion
| now as to the relative merits of Ameri-
can and English built yachts?" the Earl
| was asked.
"That is hard question to answer,
but frankly / believe the English boats
are better suited to our wind and water,
and the American built boats are faster
| in the wind and water on this side"
| Admirers of the Boston yacht Jubilee
having expressed their belief that she
can beat the Vigilant, it is announced
| that the Vigilant's friends are willing to
wager SO, 900 ON their craft in series OF
races on the Sound after the cup races.
After the races, the Vigilant will be Of
fered at private sale, and if not then
purchased, will be put up at auction. =