The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-08
The Yankee Boat Takes the Initial Race
For the Am3Tica'S Cup.
GOOD WEATHER And 4 GREAT CONTEST.
The yalkyrie Showed Herself spledier
Boat on the Point of saiiing-Both
Were Well Handled.

was fine, and every one, especially Amer
leans, feel satisfied tonight. Thursdays
scene so far as the fleet IS concerned.
was repeated. But to-day there was
pretty fnish and all the attending dem-
onstrations of enthusiasm consequent
upon a native boat scoring a victory.
When the Vigilant, riding the waves
like victor unapproached, drew hear
the finish line with all sails spread. lead
ing the English crack by nearly two
miles, all the craft in the vicinity Of
Sandy Hook drew up in line and screamed
her welcome that could be heard miles.
away to the mainland. Her gallant race
is detailed below:
The yachts started from Bay Ridge
for the Lightship at o'clock this morn
ing with a light westerly breeze, giving
promise Of something better 10 come.
Designer Herreshon steered the Nigiant
from the start to the first turn, after
which he turned over the helm TO Captain
Hansen, while Captain Cransfeld handled
the tiiier Of the Naikyrie from start 10
finish. On board the American boat
were: G. oliver Iselin, Herbert G. Leeds,
E. a. Willard w. Butler Duncan, Jr.,
w Barton Hopkins, Perry Belmont, and
Charles Kerr, the brother-in-law Of Lord
Dunraven. and his official representative.
On the English cutter were Lord Dun
raven the Marquis Of Ormonde, II. Matt
land Kersey, Designer Watson, sailmaker
Ratsey, Pilot Lyons and Rear Commo-
dore Archibald Rogers. the official repre-
sentative of the Nigilant.
At II o'clock the flagship May steam
ed down the harbor and took her po-
sition about 100 yards To the northward
OF the Sandy Hook iiohtship 10 establish
the line At her forecross-trees flutter-
ed a red flag, the letter "B," OF the
Now York Yach. club code, 10 lnrOlnc"
the fact that the contest was to be
fifteen miles leeward or wlndward and
return, leaving the mark on the star
board hand.
At f:OS the letters "D. c. g." steer
an east by south course were hoisted
and the tug Luckenbach steamed away
20 log off the course. The wind had
freshened bit by this time, and blew
from the west.
When the preparatory gun doomed
across the sea, both OF the racers were
10 the northward Of the flagship heading
west on the starboard tack. Each car
red her mainsail. club tobsail and jib.
while the American boat had her tib
topsail hoisted in stops. The Valkyrie
was the first to gibe over to the port
tack and lower her spinnaker boom 20
starboard followed by the Vigilant
few seconds later They stood TO the
lead and then manouvred around await
ing the starting gun. When this was
sounded and the red ball lowered from
the Mays tratic stay, they were stu
to the norhthward and westward. with
the Vigilant close aboard the May and
the Englishman keeping off a bit i'm or
der TO get on the weather quarter Of
the American Scarcely had the echo died
away before the Vigilant broke out her
immense spinnalIer, which seemed to al
most ensroud her put her helm to star
board. and swung around for the line
The Englishman was close upon her
heels, hoistring his spinnaker on the
weather quarter, and going oyer almost
bow and bow with the American boat
The start was the most beautiful ever
seen in American waters. and to the
spectators It seemed as though both
boats had been simultaneously shot out
Of n cannon.
As soon as the yachts were well clear
~ tho line, they began TO nay close at
tention to the trim Of their sails The
Vicilant seemed 10 have trouble with her
spinnaker, which, for some reason, got
afoul Of the starboard shrouds After
clearing this. she hauled down her iib-
top sail and set the balloon; while the
EnPlishman. following the example set
by the American. hoisted his balloon
iibtOpsail, stlll holding on 10 his jib. This
position Of the Valkyrie off the weather
quarter Of the Vigilant. gave her an i'm
mense advantage for she shot ahead and
for a time Il looked as though the Ameri-
can was n beaten boat. At the end Of
five minutes the Engishman was fully
two lengths ahead and apparently gain
Ing at every moment This discouraging
state OF affairs continued for fifteen min
utes, when the American boat seemed 10
gather headway for some unaccountable
reason. and gradually closed up the gap
until she overlook and passed the VailSy-
RE, placing at least one half a mile Of
clear water between them at the end Of
the first hour. At noon the Valkyrie put
out a large sign. Keep off our weather"
hut there was little need for this warning,
as the excursion fleet had already given
both boats a wide berth.
About i2l5 the wind began 90 haul 10
the southwark bringing the breeze a lit
tie on the starboarf quarter This forced
the NigiIant 10 take in her spinnaker,
followed ten minutes later By the Val
kyrie who had already hauled down her
tib and set her forestaysdil in It's place,
The Vigilant continued to gain so Tapidly
that the Valkyrie set her spinnaker again,
horing that this increase Of saI spread
might help her along. it undoubtedly did
some good but just as she began to pick
up the Yankee sloop also set her spin
maker. and held her long lead. Toward
one O'Clock, just as the turning mark
hove in sight, the wind became so light
that both yachts seemed almost dead in
the water, their sails hanging limp and |
lifeess to the spars. Again ii seemed as
though the days work would be all In |
vain, and the six hours would pass with
out seeing either yacht AT the finish
line.
At 1:25 the wind again hauled to south |
ward. and the Viglant took in her spin
maker. followed by the Valkyrle five |
minutes later. The Englishman was now |
standing along with no other head sail |
set but his balloon tib topsail-his jib |
was hOisted in stops. however. The Vigil |
liant was then carrying the same canvas |
forward, but she soon ran up her fore stay |
sail and jib. The wind now freshened con- |
siderably hauling at the same time more |
TO the southwark With the freshening |
breeze almost abeam, the racers braced |
in and stood for the mark, the English !
boat about a quarter OF mile astern, |
but rapidly picking up When the Vigil |
liant ran for the mark It blew a whole |
sail breeze, and she luffed around in fine |
style. hauling down her balloon jib topsai |
as she went In stays. Once around In the |
port tack she again hoisted an interme- |
diate jib topsail. and stood for the finish |
on a close reach. The Vakyrle did like |
Itgf he bal D,