The America Cup races were set to begin on October 5 and four following alternate days, the first, third, and last to be 15 knots from the lightship off Sandy Hook and return in a course parallel with the wind; the second and fourth races to be triangular, 10 knots on each leg, to start from the same point, and to have one leg to windward; all races to be started from a single gun, and to be sailed in a limit of six hours.
Earl of Dunraven's 'Valkyrie.'
As the day approached the excitement became intense; yachtsmen and sportsmen flocked to New York from all parts of the country. Betting ran in favour of 'Vigilant' (3 to 2), some bets being taken at large odds against 'Valkyrie's' not being able to win a single race in the series.
| — | Start | Turn | Finish | Elapsed | Corrected | |||||||||
| h. | m. | h. | m. | s. | h. | m. | s. | h. | m. | s. | h. | m. | s. | |
| Vigilant | 11 | 25 | 1 | 50 | 50 | 3 | 30 | 47 | 4 | 5 | 47 | 4 | 5 | 47 |
| Valkyrie | 11 | 25 | 1 | 58 | 56 | 3 | 38 | 23 | 4 | 13 | 23 | 4 | 11 | 35 |
'Vigilant' wins by 5 mins. 48 secs.
Second Race, October 9, 1893
| — | Start | First mark | Second mark | Finish | Elapsed | Corrected | |||||||||||
| h. | m. | h. | m. | s. | h. | m. | s. | h. | m. | s. | h. | m. | s. | h. | m. | s. | |
| Vigilant | 11 | 25 | 1 | 6 | 35 | 1 | 56 | 55 | 2 | 50 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 1 |
| Valkyrie | 11 | 25 | 1 | 11 | 20 | 2 | 5 | 52 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 3 | 37 | 24 | 3 | 35 | 36 |