The wind velocities were as follows:—
| At the | start | 10 | miles per hour |
| " | first mark | 15 | "" |
| " | second mark | 22 | "" |
| " | finish | 29 | "" |
On the fourth day, October 11, the start was delayed, the competitors hoping for wind, but it was made at 1.45. Course, south by west to windward and back. 'Valkyrie,' there is no doubt, was always beautifully handled, and it would be wrong not to recognise the ability Cranfield has shown throughout, whether in manœuvring for the line or in sailing 'Valkyrie' during the races in waters far from home. To these he is not a stranger, having had some experience with Sir Richard Sutton in the 'Genesta' (1885) when sailing against 'Puritan.' This race, October 11, could not be finished within the prescribed time, six hours, and therefore the tugs took the competitors in tow, homeward bound.
On the fifth day, October 13, the course was to windward and leeward. This was the great day, and included many most exciting episodes. 'Valkyrie' had altered her trim, but news had arrived of a hard blow in the south, and in heavy weather what could she do against the more powerful boat, the 'Vigilant'? The weather was overcast and cloudy, wind S.E., blowing moderately at Sandy Hook Lightship. When 'Valkyrie' was below the Narrows her mainsail was lowered, one of the throat-halliard blocks had to be repaired, and it was 11.19 before she neared the starting point. The course, due east, was given from the steam yacht 'May.' Signals now came from 'Vigilant,' 'Time wanted for repairs.' Her centreboard was jammed, but finally it was lowered about eleven feet. At 12.7 the Blue Peter was run up on the flagship. The two were under the same canvas, each with jibheader over single-reef mainsails, foresail, and jib. At 12.17 came the preparatory gun, and then began some of the prettiest manœuvring ever seen in these waters as the two big cutters chased each other like a couple of kittens for the weather berth. 'Valkyrie' passed the line up to windward 12 hrs. 27 mins. 10 secs., 'Vigilant' to leeward 3 secs. later. It was a long tack, some six miles, towards Long Island, 'Valkyrie' carrying her canvas decidedly the better of the two; to-day she was notably stiff—in fact, at no time has she ever been tender. She pointed as high as 'Vigilant,' and held her weather berth easily. The latter was heeling over much at 1 hr. 18 mins. 'Valkyrie' was on her weather bow. 'Vigilant's' jibsheet got adrift. The wind was now stronger, and they were getting a head sea, which did not suit 'Vigilant's' beam and bow.
This long tack lasted an hour, and at 2.15 'Valkyrie' led by three-eighths of a mile. As they neared the outer mark the time was
| h. | m. | s. | |
| 'Valkyrie' | 2 | 33 | 40 |
| 'Vigilant' | 2 | 35 | 35 |
In the beat to windward of fifteen miles 'Valkyrie' gained 1 min. 55 sec.
Spinnakers were now on both, the wind increasing, and at 2.47 'Valkyrie's' biggest balloon jib-topsail went up. 'Vigilant' had some trouble forward with hers, and a hand was smartly sent down the topmast stay before the sail could be sent up in stops. At 2.50 it broke up and revealed that favourite sail in America a balloon jib-topsail, and a rare good puller it is. Some very smart work was now done on board 'Vigilant' on the run. The reef in the mainsail was shaken out by a hand slung from the masthead in the bight of a gaut-line, and hauled along the boom by an outhaul as he cast off the stops. Next a hand was out on the gaff. This led to hoisting the second club topsail over the jibheader left standing to leeward, and just before the club topsail went up she ran through 'Valkyrie's' lee. 'Valkyrie's' white spinnaker burst. It was most smartly taken in, and the light one set. This split before it was belayed, from head to foot, right down, and 'Valkyrie's' chance had now gone. A large jib-topsail was set on her, but was of no use against the sail area of 'Vigilant.' Some ten minutes more and
| h. | m. | s. | |
| 'Vigilant' finished and won | 3 | 51 | 39 |
| 'Valkyrie' | 3 | 53 | 52 |
losing by 40 secs. corrected time.