The herald., 1895-09-08

out to the lightship they found that the
wind was blow ing from east by south and
| they having discretion in the matter,
| at point well in under the New Jersey
shoFe where there was promise of more
wind and more desirable beat dead out
TO windward. They notified the racers
by signal that they would carry out tha.
| purpose and the yachts and the prodi-
gious fleet of on-lookers picked up their
traps and headed for the New Jersey
coast 1t was l :55 before the committee
holsted tho signal that the course out
| ward would be east by south. According
to the sailing regulations of the regatta
| committee of the New York Yacht club,
under whose immediate supervision the
race was sailed, fifteen minutes bau 10
be allowed to the racers to find ont what
tne course would be by com pass, before
the preparatory signal was given.
| therefore it was 1910 when the pre-
paratory gun was fired. Immediately the
yachts, with clnb stopsaiF, forestay sails
and jibs set. began to jockey for the most
| favor able position. They made no short
tacks in this business and when it came
near the expiration of the minutes that
they were allowed, both yachts wera to
the westward and north ward of the line,
both heading for it. The Valkyrie was
ahead and it seemed as though she was
trying to force the Defender, which was
to the wind ward, to close up against the
com mittee boat, so that the latter would
have to make a tack before crossing The
Valkyrie was certainly pinched high up
in the wind, but the Defender was al
most, if not nearly as close Yet the DE
fender refused to be driven out of her
course and with an extra pull on her
main sheet she was enabled to follow the
Valkyrle until the course was begun and
also to maintain her weather position.
GOT OFF FOUR SECONDS APART.
The skiprers had dono their timing
very well and it was only forty seconds
after the starting gun was fired, at II 80,
tnat the Valkyrie coIssed the line. AS
said before. the Defender. on her oppon-
ents weather, was only four seconds
later. As they went over, the Valkyrie
shook out of tops a baby jibtopsail. The
Defender people were not satisfied with
so small sail on their outer stay and
spread No. 2. The wind was then blow
ing about five miles an hour. There was
of swell sea, but the water
could not be called rough by any means.
The weather conditions at the time
were pretty nearly those that have been
descrl bed as most fitting for the Valkyrie.
The challenger slipped though the water
beautifully. throwing some spray from
her bows, 1t is true, but surely sliding |
ahead of the Defender. The latter was
held very high up. but for several minutes
was both outfooted and outpointed. 1t |
was now the time when birth was given |
to apprehension of the Yankees. The |
Valkyrie. it was seen, was doing the |
faster work, and as she slipped past the
Defender. the chaps who had been betting |
on the Defender to win the match came !
nearly TO an opinion that their money !
was gone. Even the most enthusiastic
admirers of Defender and Captain Half,
such as. for instance, Captain Harry
Deny of the tug Fred B. Dalzell. who has
been to sea in pilot boats and steamers
fur nearly forty years, remarked: 1--WE
will be done up today sure; that Valkyrie
IS a marvel in this kind of going"
Both yachts were handled In the most
manner and it cannot be said
,he sails on the Briton, much as has been
said about them, set whit better than
hose of the American BOAT. IE fact, it
IAN be said that no flaw could be seen in
my bit Of cloth on either obat The i'm /
preston whion some have that Ratsey
world was hspelled when Defender
pread her sails. The yachts stood on
ha sta, board tack until 12:5J. when De-
ender was first to go about. a $ soon as
he saw this move ValKyrie did 1he same.
ANXIOUS YANKEES RELIEVED.
Valkyrie continued to gain more ad-
'antags and Defender was held up very
lose to the wind and by so doing became
,lanketed. When Captain HaH saw the
roube be was getting into. he. at II: Al
ased his ship off and gave her the good
,ull that her friends had been hoping to
ee for many minutes. AS soon as De-
endor was eased off she began to increase
er speed. She caught up on the Valkyrie .