The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-08

ing, with q light westerly breeze giving
promise of some thing better 70 come.
Designer X r1shoff steered the Vigilant
from the start to the first turn, after
which he turned over the helm to Cap
tain Hansen, while Captain Cransford
handled the Tiller OF the ValkYr.e from
start to fniSh.
On board the American boat were G.
Oliver 1selin, Herbert G. Leeds, e. A.
willard, w. Butler Duncan, Jr., w.
Barton Hopkins, Perry Belmont and
Charles Keer, the brother -in-law of
Lord Dunraven and his official repre-.
sentative. On the English cutter were
Lord DunraveD, the Marquis Of Ormonde,
IL Maitland Kersey, Designer Watson,
Pilots Lyons and Racr and Commodore
Archibald Rogers, the official represen.
tative for the Vigilant.
At IL o'clock the flagship May steamed
down the harbor and took her position
about 100 yards to the north OF the
Sandy Hook lightship to establish the
line.
At 1903 The letters D. c. G steer an
east by south course, were hoisted and
the tug Lrckenbach steamed way to log
Off the course. Ths 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 to the northward OF the flagship
heading west on the starboard tack
Each carried her mainsail, club top sails,
while the American boat had ner lib
topsail hoisted in stops The Valkyrie
was the first TO give over to the port
tack and to lower her spinnaker boom
to starboard, followed by the Vigiant
a few seconds later.
They stood to the nor tn ward with the
Vigilant in the lead and then man
ouvered around awaiting the starting
gun. When this was sounded and the
red ball lowered from the May, they
we're still to the northward with the
Vigilant cl. SO aboard the May and the
Englishma an keeping off bit in order to
get on the weather quarter of the
American. Scarcely had the echo died
away before the Vigilant brought out
her immense spinnaker which seemed
to almost enshroud her, put her helm to
starboard and swung around for the
line.
The Englishman was close upon her
heele, hosting his spinnaker on the
weather quarter and going over almost
bow and bow with the American boat
Tho start was tho most beautiful ever
seen, in American waters, and to the
spectators it seemed as though both
boats had been ultaDeously shot out
of a cannon.
AS soon as the yachts were we'll clear
OF the line they began to pay close at.
tention TO the trim OF their sails. The
Vigilant seemed to blow her spinnaker
which for some reason got afoul of the
starboard shrouds. After clearing this
she hauled down her jib top sail and act
the ballon while the Englishman follow
ing the example set by the American
hoisted his balloon jib topsail, still
holding on to his jib.
This position of the Valkyrie gave her
an immense advantage, for she shot
ahead, and for time it looked as
though the American was beaten
boat. At the end OF Ave minutes the
Englishman was fully tWo lengths
ahead and apparently gaining at every
moment This discouraging state of
affairs continued for fifteen minutes,
when the American boat seemed to
gather Roadway, for some unaccounta-
BILE reason, and gradually closed up the
gap until she overlook and passed the
Valkyrie, placing at the least one-half
mile of clear water between them at
the end of the first hour.
About 1918 the,wind began to haul to
the southwark, Bringing the breeze
little on the starbosrd on the quarter.
This forced the Vigilant to take in her
spinnaker. followed ten minutes later
by the ValkYrie. who had already
hauled down her jib and set her fore stay
in its place. The Vigilant continued
TO gain so rapidly that the Valkyrie set
her spipnaker again.
Toward l o'clock just Ns tbs turning