Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-09-10
T0-DAY'S TELEGRApHIC NEWS
One for the Yalkyrie.


One for the Valkyrie.
SANDY HooK, Sept. 10.-Fog and
general murkinees ushered in the day
set for the second contest between the
British yacht Valkyrie and the Ameri-
can yacht Defender. There was gentle
wind coming in from the westward and
the sun was forging shafts of heat in the
east that soon worked through the fog.
The people were out to see all that
could be seen of the great international
doings beyond Sandy Hook. The
crowd was not as numerous as on Sat-
urday, but it numbered well up in the
thousands. The margin by which the
Defender won on Saturday gave Amer
leans an over-confidence in the proves
of the boat. Englishmen. and Cana
dams kept up an air of confidence, but
when money was Offering right and
left at double the odds that prevailed
last week, her majesty's subjects de-
clined. The wind was light from the
southwest and the fog was lifting
slowly. Tug boat captains predicted a
good sailing breeze and all said there
would be enough wind to make race,
but not enough to bury lee scruppers.
As the two yachts passed outside the,
we'll known racing sloop Navahoe, lying
at anchor in the Horseshoe, began to
make sail for the purpose, it is said, of
accompanying the yachts over the
course. Soon the attending feet began
to put in an appearance. 1t was but a
short time when the water was dotted
with almost every description of craft.
Bands played and e1cursionists sang
and chanted praises of the much adj
mired Defender. Before the prepare
tory signal was fred, quite formidable
and imposing fotilla had assembled.
While maneuvering for position just
before the start an accident occurred
which may seriously impair the De-
lenders chances OF winning. Fifteen
seconds before the starting gun the
Valkyrie's boom caught in the De-
lenders topmast backstay carrying it
away and bending the topmast to lee
ward and cracking it. Defender con=
tinued on the course, hosting protest
signal. The Yalkyrie was plainly in
fault as the Defender had the right of
way. The course was q triangular
one, ten miles to leg. The starting
gun was fred at II o'clock, the Valky-
RE crossing the line at 11:00:13, the
Defender following one minute and
two seconds later. The wind was
light from the southwest and blowing
about 7 miles an hour. At 11:30 the
Valkyrie was leading by $50 yards, but
Defender was rap dly closing the gap.
At 11:41 both yachts were standing in
shore. They were evidently both hunt
ing land breeze. There seemed to be
some trouble aboard the Defender and
this probably was the reason she took in
her jib topsail after having set it for q
very short Time. It looked az though the
Defender, even with her short canvas,
was picking up slightly on the leader.
She was certainly out pointing the Eng
lish boat. At 11:54 both boats went
about on the starboard tack. The Val
kyrie appeared to have lead OF
about three minutes and had the wind.
ward position, and appeared to be a
quarter of q mile ahead. at II o'clock
the Valkyrie was well in the lead and
appeared to be gaining slightly on
the Defender. Thus far the excursion
feet seemed to be behaving better than
it did on Saturday. The fleet was astern
and to the lee ward of the racers, and was
not interfering with tho yachts. At
1920 p. IN. the English boat was in the
lead, but the Defender had worked
herself up into the weather position.
The Defender had not sent up her jib
TO; sail, being evidently afraid to risk
carrying away her damaged topmsst.
Fifteen minutes later she appeared to be
gaining, though the challenger was in
the lead and bearing rapidly down on
the first stake boat, which she turned at
12:57:43. Defender turned the stake at
l:O1:30. The wind still held true and
was then about - miles per hour
After turning the first mark both boats
headed westward and disappeared in
the fog. The Valkyrie turned the
second stake boat at 1870 followed
by the Defender at 201:45.
The Valkyrie crossed the finish line
at 255:22 and the Defender at 2:57:40,
the English yacht being winner by 9
minutes and IS seconds elapsed time.
With the Defenders time allowance
of 90 seconds the Valkyrie wins by
minute and 49 seconds.