Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-09
RE 5 lead

The Vall1yrie at II 40 p. M went about
on the port tack and crossed the Defend
cr's bow. The American yacht followed
suit shortly afterwards. Both yachts were
then heading southeast. The excursion
boats were still standing very close to the
racers. and one of the interfering steamers
had to back water in order to allow the
Defender to pass. The two yachts held on
the canvas under which they crossed tho
line, and when the tack was made the cup
challenger did not seem to be more than
half a length ahead and to windward OF
the Defender, while the American boat
seemed TO be outfooting the Britisher.
The Race Close One.
At 1850 p. III. the Lukenbach steamed
ahead of the yachts in order tc lay ont the
course Is miles to windward The Valky.
ric was then widening the distance
between herself and her rival. They both
held on to the port tack, the Valkyrie not
making as much disturbance while going
through the water as the Defender did
The race at this point was an extremely
close one, but it seemed as if the British
yacht had the best of it, for she was appar-
emily crawling away from the Defender.
The Britisher had her large baby jib
topsail set, while the Defender only had
her ordinary j!b topsail. The wind was
frcshening and both yachts were standing
south by east, close hauled. In spite of
this it seemed from here as if the Defend
er's iib topsail was heading her off as it
was evident that she did not hold the wind
rs we'll as the Valkyrie, which was point
ing higher, though the Defender seemed
to be footing faster
The Nalkyrie at | :04 p IN. was still on
the port tack and leading the Defender
The British yachts immense clubtopsail
was doing splendid work, while that of
the Defender, in comparison, seemed quite
small The patrol boats by this time
seemed to have succeeded in keeping the
excursion feet away from the racers. AS
the two yachts worked down the course
the decided windward position which the
Valkyrie had secured showed up more
plainly than ever. The wind was still
holding from the eastward.
The Valkyrie and Defender at about
l:l2 p. m. went about on the starboard
tack and headed east northeast. From,
this point it looked as if Valkyrie had a
lead of about half mile. The race is nc
doubt remarkably close one, and on thi;
tack, rs on the previous tack, Valkyrit
seemed to be gaining
On this tack the fleet of excursion boat
was kept well away from the racers by
the patrol boats which were doing good
work The Valkyrie, as the time WORE
| on, seemed to be steadily increasing hcl
lead Both yachts at leo p. IN. wert
holding off shore on the starboard tack
and the Defender seemed to be doing
much better. The excursion boats wer,
clustered about Valkyrie, according Il
what was made out here, in an outrageou.
manner, while the Defender seemed to bt
Keeping by herself.
The Racers Were RattIing Along
with nice breeze at 1880 p. m. and hat
sailed over about four miles of the course
The Nalkyrie had managed to shake of
the thick of the excursion fleet, which
caused the steamer captains to turn thei
attention to the Defender One notabl
! exception to this much-to-be- blamed be
havlor upon the part of the accompanyin,
fleet was the action of W. X. Vanderbilt
| with his big steam yacht Valiant, whicl
ne Kept fully half mile to leeward of tn
| excursion fleet itself and nearly half
mile from the racers. The wind at tina
hour was about east northeast and blow
ing at the rate of seven miles an hour.
Nalkyrie at las p. IN went about OF
the port tack and the Defender followet
| suit minute or two later. But the Val
kyrie then went about aud soon afterwar,
the Defender did the same. The race i
undoubtedly the most exciting ever he'll,
for the Americas cup, as it has been clos
] since the start, and at times from here i