Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-07
The yachts crossed the line. unofficial

time, as follows:
H. NJ. 8.
The wind at the start was about east,
blowing at the rate Of about four miles an
hour. The sky was cloudy and there was a
moderate sea running.
Just previous to the start. Defender
slipped in between the judges boat and
Valkyrie on the latter's weather quarter.
and both yachts went across on the star
board tack under mainsails, club-topsails.
staysails jibs and jolly jibs
Although Defender was slightly to wind
ward in crossing, Valkyrie soon began to
draw away. and at 1921 she had lead of
about 200 ards on Defender and appeared
to be gaining constantly, although the two
yachts had to pick their way through the
excursion feet, which hampered their move
ments badly.
In fact, the captains of the excursion
boats never interfered SO badly with the
movements of the yachts as they did at the
start today.
The wind at 80 pm. was freshening
and there were good prospects of a rafting
breeze before the race was ended Valkyrie
during the next few minutes did not gain
SO much on Defender, and the yachts
pulled out from the excursion steamers De
fender appeared to be doing better. De-
fender was getting good breeze and was
cutting down Valkyrie's lead.
Valkyrie at 1910 p.na went about on
the port tack and crossed Defenders bow.
The American yacht followed suit after
ward. Both yachts were then heading
southeast.
The Interfering Steamers.
The excursion boats were sti1 standing
very close to the racers and one of the in
terfering steamers had to back water in
order to allow Defender to pass.
The two yachts held on to the canvas.
under which they crossed the line, and
when the tack was made, the cup chal-
he a
length ahead and to windward OF Defender
while the american boat seemed to be out
footing the Britisher.
AT 12:5O pm. the Luckenbach steamed
ahead of the yachts in order to lay out the
course fifteen miles to windward.
Valkyrie was then widening the distance
between herself and her rival. The boats
had port tack Valkyrie not making SO
much disturbance while going through the
water as Defenders did.
The race at this point was an extremely
close one, but it seemed as If the British
boat had the best. of 1t. for she was ap-
parently crawling away from Defender.
The Britishsr had her large baby jib
topsail set, while Defender only had her
ening, and both yachts were standing
south by east, close hauled. In spite of
this, from here 1t seemed rs Il Defenders
jib topsail was heading her of. and IT was
well as Vaikyrie, which was pointing
higher, though Defender seemed to be foot
ing faster.
Quarter of "a MiHe Gap.
From here at pm iEseemed as If there
was a gap Of fullysa qtRrter of mile be-
tween the two boats and 1t also appeared
as if Valkyrie was conhkderably to wind
ward. although not footing as fast as De-
fender. But It looked as If she was con-
stantly drawing away from the American
boat, although the latter was running
nicely. For some reason or other Defender
did not look rs If she WIS holding up to
races with Vigilapt. The two yachts were
still ON the port tack and .headed southeast.
ValAyre at :O4 was still the port
tack and leading Defender The British