Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-13

after the race or not
| According to the rules either yacht re-
curing measurement must have 1t done
before race or the previous measure
ment stands. This leaves the time al
| lowance 30 seconds in favor of the De-
fender as before
| After passing the Narrows the Defender
Fcnt up her mainsail and when opposite
Swinburne island, shook out her iib and
dropped her tug. There was n rafting
wind from the southwest and the Yankee
boat sped down the lower bay at a 10 knot
gait After passing Romcr shoal she sent
up staysai and passed ont of the swash
channel at pace that dashed the spray
over her bows and left the tugs behind
The Naikyric sent up her mainsail off
Homan island, but continued in tow
down the bay.
The probability of this being the last of
the great international yacht races of '95
brought out an immense fleet, this morn
ing, almost equal in number 10 the great
gathering of last Saturday The crowd
perhaps was not so large as on that day,
but nevertheless some of the small boats
We're uncomfortably crowded
As the time for the preparatory signals.
approached, and there were only plain
lower sails visible on the British boat,
every eye was on her to see why she did
not send mp her club topsail to get ready
for the start.
The Defender was ready at 10 40, and
was cruising about III the clear space
around the committees boat and the light
ship. The Valkyric stood away to the
southwark and kept well away from the
American boat.
When it was seen that Lord Dunravcn
was not preparing to start the patrol boats
made another trip and the excursion fleet
was moved still further away. At 10 50,
the time when the preparatory gun should
have sounded, the Valkyrie still showed
no signs of preparing for race. Tho
regatta committee had consultation and
decided to give the English more time
\ look over the eXpansc of water to the
windward and around the starting line
tailed to disclose any reason for not start
ing. There were two or three OF the
steam yachts with patrol flags up, fully a
mile to the windward, and with nothing
between them and the yachts. South of
the line were couple of patrols at a good
distance away
A look over the eXpausc Of water to
wndward and around the starting line
failed to disclose any reason for not start
ing. There was ample room for the manru-
ing that preccdes the start
The wind was blowing almost due from
the west and at a velocity of not more
than eight knots an hour. The water was
comparatively smooth with a slight
ground swell. The sky was clear with
only few light, ileeoy clouds, and here and
there on the horizon was line of haze.
The two racers were cruising about at n
good distance from each other The De
fender was well to the northeast of the
line. She carried a maiDSail, club topsail
staysail and jib
Half n mile or moro away down to the
southeast, was the Valkyrie Her club
topsail was not visible and no preparation
to set was observed
AT 1890, the committee boat, the Luck
cnback, which had taken her position to
the north of the lightship, set the letter c.
meaning that the course would be 10 miles |
straight away and return.
Several minutes later. she set the com |
pass signals d. c, G., meaning that the
course would be east by south. As the |
wind was blowing, this meant that the |
race to the outer mark would be run be
fore the wind, and the return O beat TO |
Windward, The outer mark was tn he |
turned to Starboard
The Valkyrie was away down to the
southeast of the line and kept on her course |
and paid no attention to the signals.
At 105 So, the preparatory signal was |
given but no activity could be seen on the |
Valllyre's deck The wind, which had |
dropped to six knots began to freshen and |
the Defender dashed through the water la |
fine style She cruised alone TO the west |
ward. of the line and Capt. Half got the
spinnaker pole ready for the race down
the river
AT lilo the starting signal was fired, |
the Defender standing In among the ex-
cursion fleet on the port tack. She went |
about and stood back toward the line on
the starboard tack
The Valkyric eascd her sheets and stood
farther away. 1t was then evident that
she did not intend to start There was
absolutely no excuse for her behavior, as
the attendant fleet was well back of the
line and the space for working was ample.
Finally the Valkyrie came about Oh the
port tack and stood up toward the line
At lib she broke out her staysai hut
made no attempt to set her topsail, or get
ward.
The Defender sailed well down toward
the line without starting her sheets, and
then headed mp toward the westward. and
lay to for short time Then she broke
away once more and stood for the line.
She approached it as near as desirable and
then luffed up again.
At Ills she ran her spinnaker boom
1ut to starboard and as soon as 1t was ont
The spinnaker was set In stops, and cas-
ing off her main sheet started for the line.
Meanwhile the Valkyrie was coming
Along slowly. under three sails. She passed
20 the south of the mark with her boom
20 port, ran well beyond the line and then
ibed slowly and made for the line in a
eisurely manner, without making any
move to set her sails 1t was evident that .
she did not intend to race.
The Defender was well timed and made ,,
! beautiful start. The signal was given
1t ! / 20 90, and she crossed at II 20.24 !
As she did so she broke out her spinnaker /,
CONTINUED on page 2