The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-08-29
VALKYRIE'S CHASE.
Dunraven's Yacht Tries Her
Heels With Defender
and Vigllant.
VERY LIGHT BREEZE
The Trial of the Cup Protector
May Degenerate Into a
Mere Drift.

ON BOARD THE UNITED PRESS
TUG, VIA SANDY HOOK, Aug. q, 1870
A cloudy sky and a sou'westerly ushered
promising day for the second OF the
trial races set to determine whether De-
fender or Vigilant shall have the honor
of meeting Lord Dunraven's Valkyrie III.
in the contest for the Americas Cup.
The wind soon blew the cobwebs out of
the sky and ruffled the surface of the
bay in a manner that gave hopes to skip
pers and caused yachtsmen to predict
good sport later in the day. Down in that
sheltered harbor formed by Sandy Hooks
long protecting arm and known as the
Horseshoe because lucky is the mariner
who gets his ship to it's safe anchorage
ground when the old Atlantic has the
tantrums, three yachts lay at anchor
over night. The Defender and Vigilant.
with white sides glistening in the morn
ing sum- both looking every whit capable
of defending the cup and the black hulled
valkyrie freighted with Britons' hopes.
lay within hail of each other. The
crews of all three sloops were early astir.
Those of Defender and Vigilant were
preparing for today's race and the Scotch
tars were Frightening up things and MAX
ing valkyrie ready for a sail today with
her lord and owner aboard.
The expectation that the British boat
would be out near the American racers
and the interest in the performance of
the latter attracted a good-sized crowd
of spectators, and the excursion steam
ers which went seaward We're crowded
from rail to top deck. There was quite
fleet of steam yachts and tugs in the
procession down the Bay. All eyes were
on the Valkyrie as the fleet passed the
Horseshoe. She was riding gracefully
l,o,- 1orx- cfae ROO h.
ing far skyward, her polished black sides
refiecting the dancing waves and her
decks as white as sandy beach 1t
was noted that the British boat sat lower
on the water, had less freeboard, as sail
ormen say than either Defender or
Nigilant: that her nose had more of
shark-like look and that her over-hang
aft was even greater than Defender. Her
topmast seemed a little more lofty, her
bowsprit a foot or two longer and the
steel boom reached further aft than the
latest Herreshoff creation. All these
things were noted by the expert yachts
men and speculation was aroused as to
how the boat would carry her canvas IN
a good stiff breeze.
DEFENDERS TRIM.
The Defe Ter with her new ar7 larger
mast and strengthened rig drew her
share OF attention. 0ItS EtGl1lcQ III DCbtSA
8 trim than ever before as she lay at
anchor this morning. Her white hull
i looked far handsomer than the black
! body of the transatlantic visitor. Her
lines seemed finer and her narrower
body and graceful bow gave patriotic
Americans the hope that she would go
through the water faster and with less
sail than the British boat.
The race today was originally set for
August %. 1t was the second of the
trial races to enable the Cup Committee
to pick out the best boat for the interna-
tional races. the first of which is set for
September T. AS an additional incentive
John Jacob Astor has offered $1,000 cup
for the winner. The third trial race
may be sailed tomorrow unless the COM
nittee concludes after today's race to
name the Defender as the contestant in
the International races. The race to-
day was under the same conditions as
that of the first trial race of August 20.
The accident to the Defender on that
day caused the postponenent of the race
luntiI last Tuesday. The stepping of a
new mast and change Of rig was not
completed in time for race on that
day. and the committee put it off until
today.
The programme called for start from
either Scotland or Sandy Hook Light
ship at IL o'clock, course ten miles
straightaway and return or one over a
triangle with eight miles to side, either
course to be sailed twice over should
the committee so decide. The first race
having been a beat to windward and
return, the probabilities were in favor
of triangular race today. The Regatta
Committee and the Americas Cup Com
init xz-or f17cr ooly A.
S:45 the Vigilant got up her mainsafl
and few minutes later her club top
sail was sent aloft. The Defender hoist
ed her mainsail at $50 and at o'clock
had her club topsail aloft. The Va1ky-
rie showed signs of getting ready for a
spin as her headsails were sent up in
stops.
vIGILANTS START
The vigilant slipped her moorings at
91O and started out under her own can
was. She had up her Herreshof main
sail, Herreshoff jib and staysail. and
the large club topsail which she carried
in the last race. Mr.. George ]. Gould
arrived on the Atalanta and boarded the
vigilant before she started out Mr.
willard was also on her and Captain
Charlie Barr was at the wheel. The
Defender sent up her jib and staysail
and started out in tow of the tug Wal
lace B. Flint at 915 Mr.. Arthur Glen
ME ard Sailmaker Ratsey watched the
two American boats from the City of
Bridgeport as they got under way. Mr.
Elennie was asked if the Valkyrie. will
go out today. He replied:-"Oh, yes
kve are waiting to see if Lord Dunraven
Is coming down. What time is the
start?'' He was told. and asked if he
would be there. He said:-stYes, we will
be out there sailing around"
CRUISE AND START.
A few minutes after II o'clock launch
put out from the steam yacht Valiant
with VIM. H. Vanderbilt aboard and
headed for the Defender which Mr..
vanderbilt boarded. At 1906 the judges
BOAT signalled the courses as follows.-
Triangular; southeast; north by east;
half east; west by south; eight miles
)ach way
The first turn will be out at sea- the
3econd turn off Rockaway. Preparatory
3ignaI, 11:10 Start, 11:20:s8.
The Defender crossed the line at
p:20:5S, followed by the Vigilant two sec
,nds later, official time. The Defender
nd the yigilant are both carrying the
anne sails, namely. mainsails club top
ails. jibs, fore staysails and large jib
ppsails.
10.