The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-15
YACHT CLUB REPORT
REVIEW OF THE DEFENDER-vAL-
KYRIE INTERNATIONAL RACE.
Strong Case Made Against Lord Dun
raven-Reasons for Sustaining
Mr.. Iselin's Protest.

NEW YORK, Jan. 1.-THE annual report
of the regatta committee OF the New York
Yacht Club, consisting of S. Nicholson Kane.
Chester Griswold and Irving Grinnell. has
just been made public The portion that will
claim the attention of the public is that
relating to the international races last fall
between the Defender and valkyrie. The re-
port deals with all the rega.tas and cruises
that were held last year under the auspices
of the club and under the heading ''The
match for the Americas cup goes ex-
haustively into all the circumstances leading
up to the foul which lost Valkyrie the sec
ond race. The manner in which the courses
were laid out is gone into IN detail. and in
connection with them the committees ac-
ton in refusing to guarantee that they
would be kept clear is explained. The foul
claimed on Sept. IS is fully described and
Defenders claim and Valkyrie's defense are
given in detail Lord Dunraven claimed
that Defender broke Rules Z, 10, IA and is OF
the New York Yacht Club and winds up
by saving: Had / deemed it possible that
Defender would protest / should have pro-
tested against her. / believed the foul to
have been the result of an accident.
thought that being affected by my wash
and her head sails being right under my
main sail she had probably taken a sud-
den sheer to windward and Intentionally
fouled me. Under these circumstances did
not think IL necessary TO protest"
The committee justifies its action in sus-
tanning Mr.. Iselin's protest in the following
words: Section of Rule Is reads: A yacht
shall not bear away out CT her course so as
to hinder another passing to leeward.' And
based its decision. As the courses were
outside the thrce-mile limit says the re-
port, there was no authority over them,
but fotilla of twenty steam yachts be-
longing to the club acted as patrol. On
Sept. the accompanying vessels were
mixed up, and, in consequences, they TOOK
up position which somewhat cramped the
starting line. and compelled both yachts
for short period after the start to work
through Il portion OF the feet IL Is our
opinion that, with this exception, there
was no more interference through the
match than there was in 1S93-if there was
as much. Va.kyrie cited against Defender
Z: An overtaking yacht shall in every case,
so long as an overlap exists, keep clear of
the yacht which is being overtaken-' Sec
tiCn 10 says: a yacht may lun as she
pleases, in order to prevent another from
passing her to -windward, provided
she begins to luff before before an OYER
tions IA and is. which treat
of room in passing or rounding marks or
distractions. But in our opinion valkyrie's s
infringement of Section IL nullified Sec
tions and 10, and the fact that even after
luffing she passed well clear of the commit
tee beat throws out the others. Finally,
Defender was to leeward, and, as Valkyrie
states, she was the overtaking vessel. and
when the foul occurred and had almost
reached Valkyrie's beam. All this being so,
Ii is important to remember that when a
yacht Is passing another to leeward she has
every inducemelt to avoid luffing into her
adversary, since fouling she would destroy
the point of advantage she has gained. And
the other hand, the temptation to a
yacht which Is being passed TO leeward is
to approach her adversary in order to
blanket he1' and thereby secure her under
her lee.''
Accompanying the report are two photo
Cured, and the other about five seconds
later. Both are submitted as proof that
Vallxyrie had plenty of room TO luff without
danger of collision.