The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-11
TO-DAY'S YACHT RACE
Vigilant Ready, Her New Bowsprit
Having Been Put in Place.
Wind from Northwesterly Direction
-Dunraven Protests Against In
trusive Excursion Boats.

NEW YORK, Oct. 1o-The new bowsprit
sprung in the Vigilant's race on Monday
against the Valkyrie for the American cup
was in position this afternoon, and the third
race of the match will be sailed tomorrow.
The Valkyrie never turned rope yarn in
her work of Monday, so, of course, she will
be all right Lord Dunraven, designer Wat
son, Captain Cranfield and sailmaker Ra-
hey are all praying for heavy wind. They
claim, and with truth, that the Vigilant's
superiority in half gale has not yet been
proven in a race between the boats, and
they want chance in that sort of weather
before they admit that the American model
is better than that of the English. No just
comparison can be made between what the
Valkyrie did in English waters in hard
blow and what the American boat has done
on her own waters. The only way to COM
pare the boats Is at a time when they are
racing together over the same waters, with
the same Winds and above the same tides
and currents The indications tonight are
that there will be about the same strength
or wind tomorrow as prevailed on Mon
day, but from a nOrthweSterly direction. If
the wind is from the northwest the yachts
Will start on n run to leeward the first fif
teen miles and beat the last half home.
build another boat for competition next
year. Yachtsmen in New York are con-
vinced that England will never send over
as such departure from English tradition
would be too radical for British pertinac-
ity to digest. Then, wise ones say that
there never again will be challenger for
the Americas cup from England. The same
persons said the same thing when the This
tie was so badly beaten by the Volunteer,
and their opinion is only given for what the
reader may think it Is worth
Lord Dunraven bore the defeat Of his
boat yesterday like true sportsman. There
not a shade of annoyance in his man
ner as he greeted reporter last night
at the hotel Waldorf and frankly discussed
the incidents OF the day. las result of to-
days race I am satisfied said he, that
the Nigilant Is the faster boat, at the weight
OF wind which prevailed. In heavier or
lighter weather the Valsyrie might make a
much better showing. The unfortunate part
OF tile Gay was the crowding and interfering
done, innocently enough, / have doubt.
by excursion steamers. Now, while hon
estly believe that the Vigilant would have
beaten me to-day under the most favorable
conditions for good race, nevertheless but
for those excursion steamers she certainly
would not have finished more than five min
utes ahead at most 1t seems too bad after
coming so far for a fair race 70 encounter
this serious annoyance. What / wish Is a
fair test OF merit with the American boat.
which can never be secured while racing In
the middle of a fleet OF steamers Ii will
be hard for the public to estimate the re-
tarding influence of their wash Yachtsmen,
however, know how hard II Is 10 sail on
water OF that character, and Will under
stand the disadvantage under which the
her decks were frequently under water from
the wheels OF passing steamers. SO serious
Is this annoyance and so fatal Is II TO a fair
test OF speed that could have foreseen II
crowded waters With to-day's splendid
breeze we would had magnificent race
instead OF q stupid one. had the course been
clear. think II very probable that the Val