The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-09-09

an Hour-A Thrilling Moment When
the British Boat Failed to Cross the
American Yachts Bow-Defender's
Maine Crew Gives Good Account of
Themselves,
New York, September s.-The Sun
gives the following spirited account of
the international yacht race on Saturday
The first race Of series Of three best
in five between the British yacht
Valkyrie I'LL, and the Yankee yacht De-
fender for the Americas Cup, the token
of the championship of the world, was
sailed yesterday outside of Sandy Hook,
and resulted in victory for the Defender
that was in some respects the most
notable known in the long history of
English attempts to build better yacht
than the Americans could do. To fully
appreciate how great this victory was, it
must be remembered that the challenge
ing yacht was especially designed and
constructed for use in the light weather
that has usually prevailed during the in
ternational races of modern times.
Further than that she was the product
of the brain of man who twice before
came to America with the best he could
make to carry away the cup and failed
That he had profted by what he had
seen in former races need not be said to
those who have seen his latest ship under
sail. last of all, it must be known that
the very weather which he had seen on
former occasions prevailed yesterday. The
wind never for an hour was SWifter than
eight knots in the watch tower Of the
government observer at Sandy Hook.
And yet in spite Of all this the Defender,
that was designed as an all-round ship
machine, was the winner by the great
margin of eight minutes and forty nine
seconds.
AS a race there was never one more
satisfactory to patriotic Americans. AS
a pageant-a parade of the American
people who are interested in the glory Of
the old flag on the high seas-there was
never anything more imposing.
And for thrilling interest there was
never any event in yacht racing to equal
that of the moment when the Valkyrie,
believing she could cross che Yankee s
bows, tackled around to try it and found
that the Defender would cross hers in
stead, and so made haste to turn tail and
run away. The yell that broke from the
tens of thousands OF spectators who were
standing upon tip toe to watch the cross
ing was something the like of which has
never been heard off Sandy Hook. 1t was
yell that should have been heard around
the world.
Satisfactory as all this is to every
patriotic American, the day was not
wholly devoid Of matters that were at
least unfortunate. Because Of circum-
stances that will be explained further on,
it happened that when the racers got
away over the line at the start they found
before them a mass of tugs, yachts and
towering paddle wheel steamers as i'm
penetrable as a block of tenements. That
these excursionists made haste to get
away scarce need be said, but they never
should have been in the way. 1t is con-
ISOLATION, considering the result of the
race, to know that this eager, needless
mob damaged the American boat, that
had the weather gauge, even more than
the foreigner It is due to the owner OF
the defeated yacht to say that she was
not only handled with true British skill,
but that when beating and reaching
about in the legitimate jockeying for q
start and at all other times there was no
Indication Of any attempt to take any
undue advantage. The days of crowdfng
the spirit of the rule are gone:
And as for the crew of the Defender, 1t
need only bo said that for the first time
Yankee victory has been won by a
Yankee crew from Deer Isle, Maine, as
we'll as Yankee ship from the brain of
q Yankee designer. We may not call
ourselves In port while yet we are outside
to cross. but we've got the range lights
in view and the lead says we're on sound
inps. If the eagle isn't screaming yet
he's filling his lungs.
After the signal announcing the begin
ming of the ten minute limit for jockey
ing had been fred, and the ten minutes
had about expired, the Valkyrie headed
into the lee OF the judges boat IN order
to come up and point away on the star
hoard tack for the outer mark. The De-
fender, from her weatherly position, shot
down on the Valkyrie's quarter and then
Iuffed up between her and the flagship
The Valkyrie crossed the line just ahead
of the Defender, but the
DEFENDER HAD THE WEATHER
GAUGE.
It was not start that had any great
dash or splutter about it, but it is not
often that boats are as oleverly handled
an d timed as these were. The official
times at the start were: Defender,
10. 20. so; Valkyrie, IL. 20. 46 - .-
To fully appreciate what followed one
must keep in mind that during all the
time the wind was from east by south,
and that it had been, SO far as any one
could see, steady. 1t was breeze that
usually filed the ligher sails of the two
racers as they took it in over the bows,
but there was long dead swell coursing
under the breeze, and when that made
the boats jump the sails tapped in cheer
less fashion.
It was not white cap breeze. The
observer on Sandy Hook
measured the breeze and it was blowing
at Just six miles an hour. It was, as
said, Just the day the Valkyrie's designer
had calculated on. and 1t was for that he
had put 18, O27 93 feet of canvas into the
sail area of his boat. They were to have
not exactly drifting match, but the
next thing to 1t at the start. Moreover, it
should be said that while the Defender
jib topsail was the larger, the Valkyrie
spread fore staysail that more than
made up for any lack in canvas aloft.
Her staysail was really reaching sail
according to Yankee ideas, but If it had
been cut to fit more nearly the hole it
was In it would have been remarkably