Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-20
VALKYRIE THE THIRD
British Champion Yacht at New York
for the Race.
I'D vIGILANT.
DEFENDER
Contest Between These Two as to
which Shall Meet the Foreigner
TRIALS Of TO-Dny and TO-MOrrOw-
All Arrangements Made.

All Arrangements Maue'
NEW YORK, August l9.-The Nalkyrie
was towed to the Erie Basin to-day
where her racing spars will be substituted
for those used In crossing the
ocean. She will be locked. clean
ed. scraped. and painted. The dock
she will occupy Is now being oc-
cupled by a Spanish steamer, but that
will not cause any delay, as the work
OF changing the spars and rigging VIII
take four days.
The final preparations have been made
for the first of the trial races, to deter
mine what yacht shall meet the challenger
for the Americas Cup, and the Defender
and Vigilant will meet on Sandy HOOK
for a battle royal. Both yachts are in
better trim than ever before, ana po'h
will be sailed to the limit of their abili-
ties
Without question. the Defender has been
held back, and while probably no jockey
ing has been intended, the syndicate boat
has not shown her full ability TO go.
The newness Of her spars, sails, ana nj
tings has made her people cautious about
subjecting her to the heavy strain that
she must endure when pushed. Now that
her sails have been stretched and her
rigging gradually made taut, the boat Is
ready for her full powers to be tested.
She has her big l05-foot boom and largest
Herreshoff mainsail aboard, and Is now
equipped as she will be for the interna-
tiOnal races, provided she Is chosen 10
defend the cup.
FINISHING TOUCHES.
Her crew had busy day to-day. They
put the last finishing touches 10 her.
and this afternoon she was towed from
her mornings off New Rochelle New
York. The recent painting and scraping
OF her aluminium sides and bronze under
body, and the new spars and sails, make
her the handsomest cup defender Yankee
ingenuity has ever put together.
At I o'clock this afternoon the Defend
er made sail and started down the bay
towards the Narrows. There was a
spanking breeze from the north-north-
west, and under mainsail. forestay-sal!,
and ib. the crack sloop ran away from
her tender. the Hattie Palmer. and easily
passed the iron steamboat Taurus with
a load Of excursionists bound for Coney
Island.
The Defender passed the Narrows at
40 o'clock, and with her white sides
cleaning in the sunlight. swept down the
lower bay TO an anchorage In the Horse
shoe. where the Nigiiant has been since
yesterday.
THE VIGILANT.
The vlgilant remained quietly at anchor
to-day. She Is in perfect condition for
one more try at the Defender and Mr.
George ]. Could who has not spared
money or trouble. and Mr.. L. a. Willard.
who has devoted months Of time, deserve
much credit for their genuine sportsman
ship Although they saw fit 10 retire the
Nig.laut from further races at Newport.
owing to disregard Of the customary
rules Of yachting. they have kept their
word and placed the cup-defender Of 1893
at the disposal Of the American Cup Com
mttee for the trial races.
Mr.. Willard stated that any further
disregard OF the rules of the road by Mr..
Iselin or the skipper OF the Defender
would be at their own risk. as he does
not propose 10 keep on forever giving
way to the new boat. Although the Re-
gatta Committee decided against Mr..
Wizards protest. the consensus Of
opinion among yachtsmen is that the
Defender attempted to hog the line"
The unpleasant occurrence is not likely
to be repeated. as neither Mr. willard
nor Mr.. Iselin want TO see the Defender
in n collision.
The race tomorrow Will be one OF
two which are set by the Americas Cup
Committee 10 determine which is the
best yacht to NEE, Lord Dunrayen's chal-
lenger.
General Paiue's Jubilee will not take
part in the trials, and the contest will
be between the Defender and the Vigil
liant. Should one boat win to-morrows
race and the other boat the second a
third race may be fixed upon for Satur-
day.
From the showing that the Defender
has already made In her races with the
Vigiant. there is little doubt that she
will be selected to meet Valkyrie III.
TO-DAY's RACE.
The race Tomorrow wind and sea per-
hitting, will be started at II \. NJ. from
either the Sandy Hook Ightship. nine
miles outside Of Sandy Hook, or the
Scotland lightship. four miles out and
will be over one OF the two international
courses. The course will be ten miles
TO windward or leeward, and return. on
an equilateral triangle, with ten miles
TO the leg
Commodore Smith. chairman Of the
Americas Cup Committee, said to-day the
course in the trial race tomorrow will be
ten miles to windward or leeward and
return. the committee reserving the right
to order the boats 10 20 over a second
time II they deem II advisable. Hitherto.
the races have been OF thirty miles
distance and this shortening OF the time
twenty miles is altogether an innovation.
As 10 the distance OF each leg in the
triangular race OF Thursday. Commodore
Smith was not positive. but he thought
the committee might decide on seven
miles. or twenty-one miles In all. The
Americas Cup Committee and the Re-
gatta Committee of the New York Yacht
Club will view the race from the fast
ocean-going tug Luckenback. There will
be big attendance of steam and sailing
yachts and eXcursion-steamers. and
large crowd Of spectators, for now that
the Valkyrie Ill is here. interest In the
performance OF the Defender Is increasing
daily.