The second “Valkyrie” has been tried in all weathers and in various waters with the “Britannia,” the “Satanita,” the “Calluna,” and the “Iverna.” Therefore her capabilities against British yachts of her own class are pretty well known. Up to the time of writing, namely, the eve of the Royal Yacht Squadron regatta at Cowes—the regatta in which the schooner yacht “America” won the cup which Lord Dunraven hopes to bring back to England—the “Valkyrie” has sailed in twenty matches and won fourteen flags, eleven first and three second, representing a total value of £930. Her first match was in the Thames on May 25, when she had bad luck and only came in third, “Britannia” being first and “Iverna” second. In the middle of the race she broke her bowsprit off short in the stem, and in a few minutes was, for all sailing purposes, practically a wreck. In the second Royal Thames match it was doubtful whether “Britannia” or “Valkyrie” won. The Prince of Wales’s yacht was first in, but according to some watches she only won by seven seconds, whereas the official timekeeper made it seventeen seconds, thus covering “Valkyrie’s” time allowance. In the Royal Cinque Ports regatta several vessels collided, with the result that the “Britannia” did not race at all, and Lord Dunraven’s yacht was detained at the start twelve and a half minutes, and so was not placed. During the Royal Ulster match one of “Valkyrie’s” men fell overboard, and the time lost in picking up the man could not be recovered. It is, however, but fair to say that when “Valkyrie” won the second 433 Royal Western match, “Britannia” came to grief, while in the second race on the Clyde the prince’s yacht was disqualified.
THE “VALKYRIE.”
It now remains to see how she acquits herself in contest with the American vessels which have been built to meet her. The long notice required gives a distinct advantage to the other side; although only one boat can sail against the challenger, there is nothing to prevent any number of boats being designed by the party challenged. The Americans have built four cutters to select from, hence the chances against the “Valkyrie” may be roughly calculated at four to one.
There is no doubt that Lord Dunraven’s ship is a great improvement on anything hitherto built in England, and, given her time allowance, is the fastest vessel afloat on British waters. She has gone much better since she had her top-mast clipped and topsails cut. Her strong point is going to windward, and her best chance is in light weather. She leaves England on or about August 20, in charge of William Cranfield, than whom it would be difficult to find a more experienced skipper on either side of the Atlantic. He has sailed her all through her trial matches and will steer her in the races for the cup.
But it must not be supposed that Lord Dunraven is always racing in large yachts. On the contrary, he is perhaps even more interested in small boat sailing, and has, since 1889, built four “fives,” all of which have given a very good account of themselves. This year he brought out a twenty-rater, but so far she has not proved a success, and has succumbed to “Dragon” on almost every occasion. He is commodore of the Castle Yacht Club, a sporting little racing club on the South Coast, where races take place every Saturday and often twice a week. The commodore generally enters his boat for these matches, and always steers himself. Besides belonging to the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Castle Yacht Club, Lord Dunraven is a member of the Austrian Imperial Yacht Squadron; the Royal Cork, London, Southern, Southampton, Clyde, Western, and Victoria; the New Thames, Bristol Channel, Portsmouth, Corinthian and many other yachting clubs.
The same year that he returned to yachting he took up racing again, and started a stable in partnership with Lord Randolph Churchill, having Mr. R. W. Sherwood as trainer, and “Morny” Cannon and Woodburn as jockeys. On the whole his horses have been fairly successful. L’Abbesse de Jouarre won the Oaks in 1889, and Inverness 434 has secured some good stakes. Strange to say, on the day the mare won at Epsom, Lord Randolph was in Norway, and Lord Dunraven was sailing in his five-rater at Calshot Castle. Under these circumstances it is quite permissible to draw the conclusion that he prefers yachting to horse racing. After four years of partnership racing, Lord Dunraven bought Lord Randolph’s share of the stud and now races entirely on his own account. He is a good fisherman, and as equally at home with his salmon rod as with a deep-sea line. He knows nearly every fishing ground round the coast, and, after the regattas are over, generally goes trawling. His favorite places are off Plymouth, the Scilly and the Channel Islands. Both with rifle and gun he is a first-rate shot, and although he always shoots in spectacles, seldom misses his game.
