Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-09-14

With NalNyrle leading ana 10 tne
windward of the Defender, had both
held their courses there would have
been no trouble, but the anxiety of the
British skipper to get his boat over the
line first and to windward of the enemy,
made it a question if he would not
cross before the starting gun sounded.
To prevent such predicament, the
Valkyrie bore away trifie and eased
out her sheets. The main boom of the
Britisher swept over the deck of the
Defender, carrying away the topmast
shrouds on the starboard side and tear
ing out the jaws of the spreader. The
topmast cracked and was badly sprung.
Just as the crash came the starting sig
nal was given and Vallkyrie sped away
like rocket. Defender WAS luffed in
the wind, the jib topsal lowered, the
wreclkage removed and Mr.. Iselin de-
cided to continue the race. A couple
of minutes were wasted making repairs
before the boat continued on her
course. A protest flag was displayed
and the committee boat showed an an
swering pennant. Then the Defender
and her plucky crew went in pursuit of
the British cutter.
But for the accident, the race would
proba bly, have been one of the finest in
the history of the Americas cup con-
tests. Nothing was lacking to make it
memorable affair. The crowds of
spectators and fleet of excursion craft
and pleasure yachts lent animation to
the scene. There was good sailing
breeze, the sky was clear and the ocean
was comparatively smooth.
1t was a good day for Valkyrie, but
it would have been better one for the
Defender had she not met with an acci-
dent. The weakened topmast of De.
fender prevented her from carrying the
sail that Valkyrie carried and could
not keep the pace set by the Dunraven
boat. In the beat of ten miles to wind
ward to the first turn, Valllyrie gained
an advantage of , minutes and 80 sec.
onds. At one time she led by fully n
mile, but as the wind freshened from
the six knots at the start to fifteen at
the first turn, and eighteen shortly af.
terwards, the Defender, crippled
though she was, began to gain.
The second leg of the race was a
broad reach, and Valkyrie used a bal
loon jib topsail, while the people on
the Defender had to be contented with
baby jib topsail In spite of her
handicap, the Defender gained seven
teen seconds on the second leg. On the
home run the Defender continued heI
good work, gaining l minute and II
seconds. The time allowance of Val
kyrie to Defender is 20 seconds, and al
lowing for this the difference between
her time over the course and the De
tenders time was only forty-seven sec
onds. The regatta committee decide
the protest to-day. 1t is generally be
lieved the decision will be in favor ot
Defender.
At the turn and during the race, the
attendant fleet gave the yachts plenty
of room. The warning whistles of the
patrol vessels were needed and no seri
Gus interference with the yatchs oc
Cured at any time.
At the finish there was the usua
scene of excitement, with patriotic
Americans for once saluting British
yacht. The Defender received the
greater ovation of the two. Her pluclsy
fight elected much praise from yachts
men. Both yachts were towed to Bay
Ridge, where they We're anchored fol
the night. To-day new topmast will
be put onto the Defender.