Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-09-09
4 DECISIVE VICTORY.
Americas Cup Defender Takes the
First OF the Races.
Valkyrie Beaten by More
Than q Mile.
Yankee Skipper Proves Too Much For Men
From AIblon's Shores

NEW YORK, Sept. 9.-In u light wind
and "a lumpy sea, over course 10 miles to
windward and return, tho American sloop
Defender defeated the English yacht
Valkyrie III Saturday, In tho first OF a
series OF races for tho Americas cup.
II WAS fair and square test OF tho
light weather qualities of both boats. and
although both wore crowded shamefnlly at
times by the hordes OF excursion boats,
they were not sufilcitStly handicapped to
affect the ultimate result.
The first surprise OF tho day was In tho
position that tho Defender secured on
crossing the line. She was littlo bit to
windward OF the English boat; behind by
four seconds, but still TO windward.
There had been 80 much said about the
superior skippership OF Captain Syca.
more that 1t was feared that he would
so maneuyer that poor old Hank Half on
the Defender would not only be behind at
tho start but that he would be so
thoroughly blanketed that he would
never have show In tho whole race.
But while the Englishman did get over
the line first by about half "a length, tho
Yankee was on top OF him instead OF
being below or underneath his wind.
mace w ~ DeihycOs
II was IL :55 before the committee hoisted
the signal that the course outward would
be east by south. Fifteen minutes had to
be allowed to the racers to find out what
the course would be by compass before the
preparatory signal was given. Therefore,
IL was 1910 when the preparatory gun was
fired.
1t was only 48s. after tho starting gun
0.An ~. UaIl a..
crossed the line, the Defender ~. later.
Both yachts were handled In the most ad-
mirable manner, and IL cannot be said
that the sails on the British boat much as
has been boasted about them. set whit
better than those Of tho American boat.
The yachts stood on tho starboard tack
until 1890 when tho Defender was first
to 90 about. AS soon as she saw this
move the Valkyrie did the same. The
Valkyrie continued to gain advantages and
tho Defender was held very close up to
the wind, and by so doing became blank
eted. When Captain Half saw the trouble
he was getting in, he eased his ship of and
she began to inorcase her speed.
When the Valkyrie saw the Defender
ease Off, she did the same thing. Now the
breeze freshened TO about seven miles an
hour. The Valkyrie on feeling the breeze
again stood up high against 1t, while the
full rap on the Defender was continued.
Here the Defender with her sails chock
full OF wind went ahead very fast, but she
was not better than an eighth OF mile to
leeward The Vaikyrie was surely In the
lead. On this tack the vessels encount-
cred head seas from tho southeast, and
both pounded good deal
Defender Ahead.
The Valkyrie was the first to come about.
She came around to starbonrd and tho De-
fender followed her example at onco. The
Defender was still an eighth Of mile
away ON the Valkyrie's weather quarter.
On this tack there was an effort TO get In
some windward advantage by the De-
fender, and she was pinched very much.
But the Valkyrie held her ground At
1:4S the Valkyrie, evidently believing that
she could cross the Defenders bow IL the
latter would split tacks with her, came
about.
The challenger was, however, unable to
weather the Defender, and when she
passed under the Americans storm. there
was shrieking by tho steam yachts The
Valkyrie on finding that she had not yet
gained enough to weather the Defender,
came back again to the starboard tack af-
ter I'm. on the port. AS she did 80, the
Defender came about to port.
At 2 o'clock the breoze stiffened up to
about eight miles On hour and, with that
increase, the Defender began to overhaul
the enemy. 1t was 1856 when the De-
fender was on even terms with the other.
Thence she gradually, but positively,
forged ahead, and at $50 IL was estimated
that the Yankee boat was about three
lengths ahead, and we'll to windward at
chat.
Wind Increases In Velocity.
The Defender was first to come around
30 starboard and head for the outer mark
This was at 1926 It looked Just thou as
though the Defender was sone-fourth-mile 30
the good. When the Valkyrie came about
los. later she was we'll away on the Defend
er's Ice quarter. The breeze continued to
blow at about eight miles an hour from
southeast, and they came along at pretty
livcly gait to round tho buoy and square
away for home.
The Defender passed first by 8m. 23s., a
gain of 3m. 27s. from the time OF start.
On going around they eased of sheet on
the starboard side, set balloon jibtopsails
and sped for tho finish. The Valkyrle
took in her jib and staysail, while the De-
fender hauled down only her jib. Before
long, however, the Valkyr1e, seeing that
the Defenders staysail was drawing well,
rosot hers.
The same sails were held on both ships
all the way to the line, while the wind
gradually dropped toAss original strength
OF about five miles On hour. In all the
reach the Defender continuously increased
her lead over the Valkyrie, and flushed
bm. and 40s. ahead Of her.
From the English Press.
LONDON, Sept 9.-The comment OF The
Standard Is: Not only In the long boat
10 windwrrd, but on the run back, also,
tho Defender showed herself TO be dis
tinctlv superior 10 the Valkyrie III Tho