The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-05
vICILANT LOST.
Prince of Wales Britannia
Defeats Bristol Boat.
The VaIkyrie Sunk by the Satanita at
Beginning of Race.

bu Inc Associated Press.
HUNTERS QUAY, Firth of Clyde), July
6.-The regatta of the Mud Hook Yacht
Club today opened amid a scene of ex-
citement which was soon after intensified
by collision between the Valkyrie and
the Satanita, which resulted in the sink
, Ing OF the former yacht and the serious
disa bling of the latter.
Then to still further excite the masses
ashore and the people afioat, the Britain
MIA, which had the best of the start, was
overhauled and passed by the ssucy
Vigilant.
A fever heat of excitement prevailed
here previous to the start for the Muir
Memorial Cup race. No such interest has
esssr before been shown here in a achting
contest, for the American flyer, Vigilant.
was to meet, for the first time, the Prince
OF Wales cutter, Britannia, admitted to be
the fastest yacht in Europe.
Crowds Watched Race.
Every point of vantage about the
course was packed with sight seers from
early morning and their mum ber was con-
stantiy added to as the day advanced.
Hunters Quay, Innellan, toward
Point Skelmorlie, Weymss Bay, Cloch
Point and Kilcreggan were the
main places from which the race could be
best seen and to these points the crowds
mockeo In wholly unprecedented numbers.
The natives, of course, fondly
hoped that the Britannia would win:
but the British experts looked blue and
were compelled TO admit that the Ameri-
can yacht stood the best chance of win
ming and that the British pride would
have to take another big tumble before
the skill and enterprise of America.
The people hereabouts are yachting en-
thusiasts of the first water. The CIyde
has turned out hundreds of proud
steamers, sailing craft and yachts, and all
the canny Scots anxiously hoped to see
the Britannia triumph.
The Course.
The Royal Clyde Yacht Club course.
sailed in the Mud Hook regatta as already
described in these dispatches, is 80 miles
long and i'll shape, similar To two trian-
giles with their points meeting. The
yachts started from an imaginary line
drawn between the Royal Clyde Yacht
Club headquarters, at Hunters Quay,
and mark boat No. l.; the frat
leg was around a mark boat off skel-
morlie, from there to and around another
mark boat of Ascog, thence TO and around
a mark boat of Kilcreggan, and from
there to the starting point; twice around.
The start was fixed for 10 80 a. M, and
just previous TO that hour a fair wind was
blowing, and IL was expected that the
race would be concluded by 3 p. m.
The Britannia, Valkyrle and Satanita
lay at the Holy Loeb anchorage, a small
bay close to and a little northward of
Hunters Quay.
All three hoisted their racing flag at
sunrise and commenced active prepara-
tions for the days aquatic contest.
vigilant Picture.
The V;gilant stayed at Gourock bay
during the night; but, shortly after o
o'clock, with flags flying proudly and
under her lower sails, the American
clipper reached across the bay, coming
through the water with her PROV cut
with knife-like sharpness. Never did a
yacht look trimmer or more fit for race
than did the Vigilant, this morning. Her
smart, seamanlike appearance provoked
warm comments OF general approval.
The Goulds' steam yacht Atlanta, with
n large party on board, followed the Vigil
liant TO the Holy Loeb anchorage.
The breeze then began freshening until |
n rattling southerly wind was blowing
and no doubt remained that 6ne days |
racing was in prospect.
Breeze Pretty StiT.
The breeze had been coming up the |
firth I'm gusts all the morning and the ex- |
perts had IL that IL would freshen and |
hold out at least long enough for all |
purposes.
But Just previout to the start the |
clouds, which had been gathering with |
he wind, grew blscker, and il became
,howery.
All the yachts set their mainsails and
small topsails.
The prospects OF the race nj about 10 n.
m. were es follows: The first distance
would be n beat TO windward 10 miles, 10
3kelmorlie; following that q reach across
20 Ascog, then run back 10 miles to Kill
,reggan and free reach to the stake boat
)n Hunters Quay. tW ice around.
-. Men at the Helm.
Lord Dunrsven, with George l.. Watson,
he designer, was steering the Valkyrie;
Mr.. A. ID. Clarke, owner OF the Satauita,
vas at her stick; Nat Herreslof was Mt
he wheel OF the Vigilant, and w. jamie
on was steersman of the Britannia.
The start was made i'm a bIfndfbg mist.