Evening star., 1895-08-29

giving the yachts a broad reach with the
wind well ait. the second leg I.orth by east.
half east. toward the Rockaway snore, ana
the tnila leg, the run home, west by south.
The w-nd at the start had moderated
considerably and was only blowing about
six mics hour. The start was re-
marSaDiy fne one.
AT ll:54 both yachts were standing along
shore, now and then getting into calm
spots. About three miles astern of the
competing yachts was the British chal-
lenger, Nalkyrie, with her mainsail club
topsail, foresail, jib and baby jib topsail
IullIng nicely.
Defender and vigilant at the start both
carried mainsails, club topsails, staysaIls
and balloon jibs; but they had not gone
far before both of them took in their bal
loon Jibs.
Valkyrie at 1O3s. took in her baby jib
topsail, preparatory to setting her balloon
1ib.
The wind did not blow more than four
miles an hour, and in spite of the help De-
fender received from her immense ballon
tib. Vigilant. having a little the best of
the wind, seemed to be holding her own
for while.
At Hap am. the wind had become so
light that Defender had practically lost
steerage way in a calm spot which she had
struck; but Vigilant, further in shore,
seemed to hold a better wind and was
crawling up On her slightly.
Valkyrie then broke out her balloon jib,
and at 11:45 she was coming after the
competing boats, carrying a good breeze
with her.
Valkyrie Gaining.
Apparently, under the influence of bet
ter breeze, Valkyrie, at 11:4I. began to
rapidly overhaul the American boats, and
1t began to look as if she was ''out for a
scrap" as she was only two miles behind
and was heading directly for them.
By this time Vigilant had almost caught
Defender. Both the American boats had
,fflrn yiv,d
along with their sails fairly filed.
Valkyrie's jib seemed to be doing 7er
good service. II was estimated to be fully
one-third larger than either Defender or
the Vigilant's
Both Americans Almost Becalmcd.
At noon the American yachts were al
most becalmed. and Valkyrie had pulled up
to within about mile Of them.
Defender seemed to be having by far the
worst of the weather. She was absolutely
becalmed. and had drifted around until her
head was pointing seward.
Valkyrie had made great run from the
lightship down to the Highlands Of Nave
sink, with the wind on her quarter: but 20
comparison in the way of speed could be
made, as she carried the wind with her all
the way down. But the sails of the British
boat set perfectly.
The race at 1910 pm. developed into
nothing more than drifting match. and
puff or two of wind once or twice a min
ute incidentally. it may be said that VAL
kyrie seemed to be the better drifter of the
three.
vaikyric Returns.
At 1892 pm. yalkyrie gybed around.
having come within half a mile Of the
racers, and started back to the lightship
Valkyrie at 12:45 pm. had caught the
breeze again. She was over mile from
the yachts, standing over toward the light
ship.
There were indications that a westerly
wind cropping out from the shore would
reach tie racers in the course of ten or
fifteen minutes. Defender and Vigilant
were still bucking the flood tide, with only
light airs to help them.
Vigilant at lis pm. caught light breeze
and began heading nicely toward the first
mark. with Defender ahead Of her, but
further out to sea, and almost hidden in
the haze.
OF-shore there was almost a dead calm.
and although Defender proved herself the
better drifter of the two during the last
hour of dreary wind-hunting, Vigilant, un-
der the influence of the shore breeze,
which reached her first, was cutting down
the lead, and looked likely, If the breeze
held out, to pull ahead and get round
the first mark boat before Defender.
The wind. at 1 80 pm, out in the bay,
had shifted southeasterly. giving Defender
the best of the windward position, which
SHe tHen ESlu. BOIn ydCntS were tEe1
close-hauled on the starboard tack and
standing off shore. Defender had g. lead of
over mile. Both yachts had taken in
their balloon Jibs and under mainsails,
topsails, We're beating toward the first
mark.
Defer Increasing Her Lead.
Defender apparently caught a nice little
breeze from the southwark at about 1:35
Pm. as she began standing toward the
first mark at a neat clip, increasing her
long lead over Vigilant, which was then
still in the doldrums.
Both boats were standing off shore on
the starboard tack at 40 pm. and Vigil
lant having caught a light wind, began
pulling up on Defender. She was quite
distance away. however, and somewhat to
leeward.
Valkyrie at AS was nearly opposite the
Navesnk Highlands, on her way back to
the Hook, and practically becalmed. This
illustrates the utter lack of sailing wind.
Rounding the First Stake.
Defender rounded the first mark at about
2O135.
Vigilant turned the stake boat at about
2O6:54.
2:35 p.m.-Both boats have entirely dis
appeared from view in the haze. A squail
seems to be coming up from the westward.
There is no likelihood of the race being
finished before $50 O'Clock, as the yachts
nave a ClOSe rSaCn from the second marx
to the finish line; or. If the wind comes out
from the westward. they may have to beat
to the finish line.
Coming Into View.
252 p.m.-The yachts are now coming
into view here through the haze, although
they are not to be made out distinctly. 1t
locks as if they would round the second
mark in about five minutes.
The haze is so thick where the mark
boat is anchored that it is impossible to
distinguish any particular boat; but what
appears to be the Defender can dimy be
made out approaching the mark.
Defender Nine Minutes Ahead.
FAR ROCKAWAY, August 20, 304 pm
Defender appears to lead Vigilant over nine
minutes. Both yachts are still holding
straight for the markboat under full sail.
TORPEDO boat CAPSIZED.
Thirteen Persons Arc Reported