New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-09
WATCHING THE YACHTS AT ANCHOR.

be said TO know more than most men about the
science of yachting confesses TO be totally at sea
as TO the final outcome it is really difficult to com
prchend the confidence Of less well informed per
sons.
rsnecialIv IS this true regarding those wagers
which were made at considerable odds prior to the
race The following ones can he more easily under
stood and especially those made after the begin
ming Of the race. by men who tried TO hedge
by offering large odds on the Vakyre when she
started off with all the appearance during the FIRST
hour Of being the winner.
The passion for betting and the risks taken by
people who in this sport uniformed. are often
beyond the average understanding This in a
small way was curiously exempliied by a selier oil
newspapers uptown. This man makes MS money
in fractions OF cents, but he actually bet several
dollars of his slow gains that the Defender would
sail the race at "A rate Of over eighteen miles an
hour lie explained yesterday that Mr.. Dunn OF
the Weather Bureau, had stated that the wind
would probably blow at an eighteen or twenty mile
pace and in way he made his valuable de-
auctions from this He tod the writer OF the bet
prior to the race. and smiling said he guessed nc
had cinch.'
This desire to always have some money risked,
or rather safely paced" every contest that
comes prominently before the public and whicn
here Families into many different grades, even
down 20 the sub-deputy assistant OF the grocer s
clerk is largely encouraged by newspapers when
do not seem 10 understand the uil'itH't ott"cei
a sportsman" and "spopt," and which Openly
assert that a is not real sportsman unless
he bets his own yacht or horse.
The least that can be said of such journalistic
sentiments (Which may here be left to controllers
OF national sanitation and to the police is that
they are expensive. And the reasons why money
should be wagered either boat with any further
certainty since Saturdays may be said TO be
not very clear 1t is that one further fact is
now known, namely. that the Valkyrie Will not
have a wa.kover in light winds. This was shrewd.y
guessed at before Saturdays race by those who
were fairly capable of forming an opinion
NO GUIDE FOR HEAVY WEATHER.
Beyond this nothing can be safely predicted Not
even the owners and designers Of the respective
yachts know than this. The public Is totally
without a guide as to what the Nalkyrie Will do in
heavy winds. All through the she seemed 10
be possessed of stability and ease OF motion, to-
gether- with absence of careening all OF which
seemed TO indicate a great reserve Of power which
the light airs failed to bring out.
Saturdays race had several pecuartles which
have not so far been noticed II strange
thing that the Nalkyrie should go off on the start
showing marked superiority in speed that sh'
afterward proved unable TO increase or even TO hold
At first she nmistakably outfooted the Defender
coming up from leeward position and soon cross
ing the Defenders bows, fairly well 10 wlndWard
The most careful students failed TO explain to them
selves the fact that the superiority afierward slowly
disappeared The strength Of the breeze did no
greatly alter any Of the canvas changed
on either boat. Yet the Valkyrle which stole ava,
so well at first. seemed 10 grow urea alteT th'
first hour had elapsed
There are at least three possible explanations o
this occurrence which was really the only prenom
enon Of the days racing.
| Perhaps the first explanation IS the best. Their
seem to have cen two different hands at the stick