An outstanding race in America's Cup history, according to all
historians.
In a strong easterly wind, increasing to 30 knots by
the finish of the race, both yachts started off Sandy Hook lightship with one
reef in their mainsails and with working topsails. The course was 15 miles to
windward and then return to the finish.
As can be seen in the
painting, "Valkyrie II" got the better start, out to windward of "Vigilant" and
maintained that lead to round the windward mark 2 minutes ahead of "Vigilant". A
good sea is running and the yachts are rearing and plunging through the waves,
with water streaming over the decks. The sun shone through for a while on the
beat to windward, reflecting off the wavetops and illuminating the luffs of the
headsails. The weather is very hazy and spectator vessels can be seen,
accompanying the yachts, in the background.
On the downwind run
to the finish "Valkyrie II" tore her first spinnaker, set a lighter weight
spinnaker and blew that out!
"Vigilant" shook out her reef in the
mainsail, set a small jack topsail and spinnaker and passed "Valkyrie II" to win
by 40 seconds and thus the America's Cup, having won the first 2 races as
well.
"Vigilant" was the first of 5 defenders of the America's
Cup designed by Nathaneil Herreshoff. She was built for a syndicate consisting
of C. Oliver Iselin( head of syndicate), E.D. Morgan, August Belmont, Cornelius
Vanderbilt and others. She was a centreboarder and the first yacht to be built
of tobin bronze.
"Valkyrie II" was a keel cutter designed by
George L. Watson and built of composite construction with a copper plated
bottom. She was owned by Windham-Thomas Wyndham-Quin, fourth Earl of
Dunraven.
NOTES AMERICA-SCOOP :