Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-09-26
Something About Yacht Racing.
hoIf rnillioo 5nI1aru boc already

been spent III this years contest over
the Americas cup. This includes the
cost of the four American cup defend
ers and of the Valkyrie. Colonia, Pill
grim aud Jubilee cost about $4,000
apiece to build and equip; the Vigi-
liant cost about 100000. This is more
than has ever before been spent upon a
yacht of her size. The added cost of
the Vigilant was because of her bronze
hull below the water line. This bronze
which added a fraction of second to
the yachts speed in mile, cost $20,-
600. The cost of the Valkyrie was
somewhat less than that OF any Of the
other four boats because of the cheap
ness of labor and material in England.
The contest will have cost q good deal
more than $500,000 before it is decided,
and the intrinsic value of the Americas
cup at the present price of silver Is
about 5000 The cup is shaped like an
ld-fashioned vinegar bottle. Never
theless, it is the most precious yacht
ing trophy in existence, as it repre-
sents the yachting supremacy of the
world, and has an interesting history.
1t has never been in Europe since cap
tured by the America in 1851.
About forty men are on board the
Vigilant in race the crew numbers
about thirty-fve. A crew Of ten or
twelve men could handle the yacht un-
der ordinary conditions, but forty men
are needed in race, not only for pull
ing and hauling, but to act as ballast.
In the latter capacity they simply sit
up to windward with their legs stuck
out over the side as far as is compatible
with safety. All is silence during a
race, save for the roar of the rushing
waters and the whistling of the wind
through the rigging. 1t is not necessa-
rv for the commander to roar out his
orders, nor to use the speaking trump
ct. The sailing master speaks in clear
and distinct tones which are heard all
over the boat and the sailors jump to
obey.
In "goiug about" only those who
have been assigned to the work of the
jib sheets meddle with them. Those
having the mainsheet in charge keep
their ears open for the order "main-
sheet, and then there is united pull
to get the main-boom few inches
further in. Others attend exclusively to
the centre board, others look after sails
like the spinnak ers and the balloon jib
topsail, others "stand by" the peak and
throat halyards in case of an emergen-
CIV, and there is man whose duty it is
to watch the other yachts.
The sailors wear soft shoes with rub
her soles, and are dressed in white. A
lifeline is stretched around the gun
vale during race, for all to hang on
to in case of necessity. If man is
swept overheard life-buoy is thrown
to him, and the yacht keeps on her
way. The idea of stopping to pick up
a man overheard would not be enter
tanned for an instant.
During race all the men lie down
on the deck so as to offer as little re-
sistance as possible to the wind. For
the same reason none of the yachts
carry boat. The only flag carried is
a little pennant at the masthead to show
what way the wind is blowing, and oc-
casionally diminutive ensign or pri-
vate signal..at the peak.
The Yigilant steers with wheel, but the
Thistle which WAS almost rs big. steercd with
tillcr, which some expert yachtmen prefer.
The fastest yachting time has been made be-
fore the wind. and is between thirteen and
fourteen knots tabout 16 miles, per hour The
fastest time of steamer is between twenty
two aud twenty-three knots.
The Vigilant has . hollow iron boom. Her
peak halysrd blocks are AS big rs mans
head, and the masthead is larger than
mans body. while the mast itself is as thick
as barrel OF flour and bigger than that of
any ship in New Yoak harhOr. 1t is as much
as strong man can do to lift one of her throat
halliard blocks from the grouud.
The America Cup is kept in vault at Tiff
fany's jewelry store in New York. On its
sides are engraved records of all the races
which have been sailed for It's possession.
There are only one or two moro fiat surfaces
upon which records of races can be engraved.
--S----