The record-union., 1894-07-06
Has Bad Luck in Her First Race
Against Wales Yacht,
BUT PROVES HERSELF TO BE THE
FASTER SAILER OF THE TWO
Collision Between the valkyrie and
Santa Anita, In Which the Former
was sunk-Racing Events at Sleeps
head Bay, Washington Park and
Portland.

Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.
HUNTERS Quay Firth of Clyde, July
5.-The regatta of the Mud Hook Yacht
Club to-day opened amidst scene of ex-
element which was soon after intensified
by collision between the Valkyrie and
Santa Anita, which resulted in the sink
ing of the former yacht and seriously dis
abling the latter.
Lord Dunraven, with George L. Will
son, the designer, was steering the
Valkyrie. a. D. Clark, owner of the
Santa Anita, was at her stick. Nat
Herreschof was at the wheel of the
Vigilant. and w. Jamison was in COM
mand Of the Britannia.
The start was made in a binding mist.
the wind, however, holding good. The
Vigilant, Britannia and Santa Anita
came up in line for the.port tack to turn
the marx boat, while the Valkyrie raced
down from the Holy Loche.
Then to still further excite the masses
ashore and the people afioat, the Britain
mia, which had the start, was oyerhauled
and passed by the saucy Vigilant No
auch interest was ever before shown here
in yacht race, for the American flyer,
the Vigilant, was to meet for the frst
time the Prince of Wales cutter, the
Britannia, admitted to be the fastest yacht
IN Europe.
The Vigilant turned handsomely and
was on the mark boat shortly after the
gun was tired, but the Britannia was
quicker and got off three lengths ahead.
The Santa Anita was unable TO get out
of the Valkyrie's way. AS the latter was
coming up on the starboard tack the
al
Anita's foresail, and the collision which
ensued carried away the Santa Anita's
bowsprit and the topmast, leaving her
wreck covered with the tangled and col
lapsed sails. The force of the collision
cut the Valkyrie down to the waters
edge, and she settled and sank in three
minutes.
Lord Dunraven, Wilson and the officers
and crew OF the ValkyrIe we're picked up
by the boats which put out from the
shore and from the many sailing yachts
and steam yachts in the vicinity.
The Captain of the Santa Anita said that
he did not have room to turn, owing to
the great number of steam and other
yachts about the starting line.
On the Valkyrie seaman had his leg
badly crushed. The yacht lies in twenty
five fathomS of water.
In the first round the Vigilant led by
two minutes. The Vigilant continued TO
draw ahead. Turning the mark-b boats
the yachts came on run, the Vigilant
carrying her great balloon, or spinnaker
jib, which was drawing splendidly.
After passing the boat both yachts set
their spinnakers to the starboard, and the
club topsails were replaced by jib head
ers. AT the weather mark the jack yard
ers were gotten up and were run out to
port and the jib topsails were set.
Under this sail both yachts ran toward
h. L. -
as if the Britannia was closing up little.
Approaching the Cloch Lighthouse on
the run home the Vigilant was still lead
ing, and it was estimated that she was
about seven minutes ahead. The wind
was softening, but the Britannia, with
her spinnaker down, began to haul the
Vigilant in, and passed her near Gour-
mock.
The Britannia passed the winning mark
five seconds ahead Of the Vigilant amid
the greatest excitement. Time of the
Britannia, hours and % minutes. Vigi-
liant, 5 hours, 5S minutes and seconds.
One of the most remarkable changes
which ever occurred in yacht race took
place several miles from the finish. The
wind was still fairly fresh on the run up
TO the Firth as far as Cloche, where the
Vigilant had a lead of over tive minutes.
On the home side of Gloon the Vigilant
dropped out of the wind and the Britain
MIA began to draw upon her, keeping fur
ther from the shore. A mile above
Cloche the Vigilant was passed and the
britannia was leading by half minute
at Kilcreggel. On the straight the Vigi-
liant pluckIIy endeavored to come past,
but the Britannia luffed up and prevented
her. The finish was as already cabled.
The VIgilant should have won, with
minute or two TO spare. and would have
done so but for the sudden failing of the
wind, in which the Britannia was so we'll
served. 1t was admitted on all sides that
the Vigilant was the better boat, and that
she had the hardest lines in losing.