The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-29
WENT OUT FOR A SAIL
VALKYRIE AND VIGILANT YES
TERDAY TOOK ANOTHER EX-
PERIMENTAL SPIN.
THERE WAS NO TEST OF SPEED

Even in Light Breeze ValkYrie Moved
Along Very Rapidly and Though her
Sails were not Full Passed good sized
Vessels as Though they were at An
ChOr--Great Crowds Watched the two
Famous Yachts Anxious to Witness
Test of their Speed.
NEW YORK, Aug. Valkyrie III
and Vigilant went outside Sandy Hook
early today. The first named yacht to
take another experimental sail in the
waters where she is to contest for the
American cup ten days hence, and the
American sloop to get line" on the
Britisher and test her qualities for the
benefit of the syndicata's yacht, De-
fender.
Soon after 10 O'Clock Valkyrie was un-
der sail carrying mainsail, staysail, jib
and club topsail. The wind had shifted
to the west, was blowing about eight
miles an hour and the air was still
somewhat hazy.
In the light air Valkyrie moved along
very rapidly and it was noticed that she
passed the fleet of good-sized sloops and
schooners as though they were at an
chor, and this in spite of the fact that
her sails did not seem to be set very well
on account of the breeze being too light
to fill them.
The wind gradually fell away until
1870 a. m. There was hardly enough
to give Valkyrie steerage way and she
eventually became almost quiet and be-
calmed off Romer Beacon, and there
upon went about and headed up the
Swash Channel again, evidently not
being able to stem the dood-tide with
the light air then blowing from about
south southeast. While heading back
up the bay Valkyrie took in her
iib topsail and soon afterwards became
wholly lost to sight in the mist. She was
sighted again from the highlands of
Navesink shortly before o'clock. There
was very little wind bowing and she was
beating down the ship channel. There was
just enough breeze to keep her sails full
and she managed to make headway
against the flood tide. Valkyrie had
baby lib top sail set when beating down
the lower bay. The wind, due south was
only blowing at the rate of about five
miles an hour; but the cup challenger
felt it and lay over at quite an angle un-
der it. She also felt the breeze in an
other way, for she glided ahead through
the water in slick style.
The Dunraven yacht made couple Of
tacks during the next ten minutes,
and it was clearly apparent that she was
allowed to go about easily but the i'm
preston formed yesterday that she is
wonderfully quick in stays, was fully
confirmed.
Vigilant hoisted her newly bent main
sail as Valkyrie stood down past the Hook
on the starboard tack. This was at about
1850 o. M, and the wind had died away
almost to a calm. The challenger then
had the last of a strong flood tide to
buck against, so she practically came to
a halt and bobbed up and down on the
ocean swell. But after clawing away
over the tide until she got well beyond
the point off where the Valkyrie took in
her jib-top sail at 2:20 p. m, and hauled
her sheets aft again, she pointed
closer up into the wind. Vigilant at
that hour still lay at anchor with her
racing mainsail set and her gaff top sail
aloft. Valkyrie, however, only went
out as far as the outside bar and at
p. m. she lowered her club-top. sail and
jjb-top-sail and put about apparently
with the intention of passing into the
Horse Shoe again. The wind was
then south, light, and the sky was cloudy.
AS Valkyrie headed in towards the
Horse Shoe, Vigilant was just getting
under way and 1t looked very much as if
the cup challenger was likely to give her
another slip and thus raise the test of
speed between them which the crowds
assembled hereabouts have been so long
anxiously wishing for. Valkyrie at $3.50
p. m. had returned to her moorings, hav-
ing, apparently done all the sailing her
handlers proposed to give her to day.