'Vigilant' beat 'Valkyrie' on first leg 4 mins. 35 secs., on second 4 mins. 12 secs., and on third 3 mins. 26 secs. 'Vigilant' won by 10 mins. 35 secs.
Third Race, October 13, 1893
| — | Start | Turn | Finish | Elapsed | Corrected | |||||||||
| h. | m. | h. | m. | s. | h. | m. | s. | h. | m. | s. | h. | m. | s. | |
| Vigilant | 12 | 27 | 2 | 35 | 35 | 3 | 51 | 39 | 3 | 24 | 39 | 3 | 24 | 39 |
| Valkyrie | 12 | 27 | 2 | 33 | 40 | 3 | 53 | 52 | 3 | 26 | 52 | 3 | 25 | 19 |
To windward 'Valkyrie' gained 1 min. 55 secs. Off the wind 'Vigilant' gained 4 mins. 8 secs. 'Vigilant' won by 40 secs.
Every steamer, tugboat, or anything propelled by an engine within 250 miles of the scene of the contest was pressed into service; and the fleet by sail and steam started for New York, bearing eager, interested men who had laid aside every business or social engagement to witness what was felt to be the greatest yachting event the world had ever known.
The 5th came. The bay and surrounding waters were alive with craft loaded with excited spectators, but all were doomed to the bitterest disappointment. It was a perfectly exasperating day—light winds varied by calms; and spectators saw the nation's hope absolutely forsaken by the treacherous breeze, whilst her opponent sailed away with favouring flaws until the American was hopelessly distanced. The time limit was reached before two-thirds of the course were covered, and yachtsmen as well as spectators returned utterly disgusted. The abortive race of the 5th afforded not the slightest clue to the comparative value of the contending yachts, so on the 7th the prospects of the coming race were as uncertain as ever.
The day was again disheartening; a waning westerly wind gave no promise of a good race; the attendance was still large, but there was a decided falling off in numbers from the first day.
The yachts were sent off east by south at a six or seven mile pace, the 'Vigilant' slowly gaining; but when about half-way to the outer mark 'Vigilant' took a start and rapidly drew away from 'Valkyrie,' so that when within three miles of the mark she was one and a quarter mile in the lead. Here a soft spot in the wind occurred, and 'Valkyrie' drew on the brass-bottomed boat; but at that moment the wind shifted more southerly, blowing over the quarter rail of the yachts, and 'Vigilant' again drew away from her pursuer, turning nearly a mile and a half in advance.
The wind having changed in direction there was no windward work, the yachts returning two or three points free, and maintaining the same relative distance at the close as at the outer mark. The race of the 7th, although a decided victory for the American, was not generally considered as a satisfactory test of sailing qualities; the wind was unsteady in force and direction, and to some extent fluky, but in the opinion of those who were competent to judge, the 'luck' was rather more on the side of the 'Valkyrie' than the 'Vigilant,' the English, however, stoutly declaring the reverse.
The real value of the two yachts in windward work was still unknown, and although 'Vigilant' had scored by a good margin one race, still the result was then quite uncertain.