1893 America's Cup Explained

Competition:	9th America's Cup
Defender Country:	USA
Defender Yacht:	Vigilant
Challenger Country:	Great Britain
Challenger Yacht:	Valkyrie II
Location:	New York City
Rule:	the Seawanhaka Rule
Score:	3 0
Prev:	1887
Edition:	9th
Next:	1895

The 1893 America's Cup was the 9th staging of the America's Cup yacht race. It was contested as a best-of-three-match-race series in New York City, New York, United States between Vigilant owned by the Charles Oliver Iselin syndicate, representing the defender, the New York Yacht Club; and Valkyrie II owned by the Earl of Dunraven, representing the Royal Yacht Squadron.

The first challenge since the infamous editing of the Deed of Gift after the races of 1887, came from Lord Dunraven via the Squadron's secretary via telegram on 19 March 1889 and the NYYC accepted the challenge on 11 April 1889. However, they only accepted on the conditions laid out in the new Deed of Gift^[1] to which Dunraven and the Squadron's committee objected strongly.

After extended correspondence, in the Spring of 1889, the Squadron withdrew Dunraven's challenge stating that "We would not undertake the responsibility of entering into such a covenant, which would make the terms of the new deed of gift binding on any future challenger. We would further point out that the effect of accepting the conditions of the New York Yacht Club would be to compel the Royal Yacht Squadron to insist upon receiving, should it be successful in winning the Cup, more favourable terms from a challenger than those under which it challenged."^{[2] [3]}

Dunraven wrote a letter in April 1980 to Mr J. R. Busk of the NYYC declaring the 1887 deed "altogether too complicated a document to govern a matter of sport such as yacht racing"^{[4] [3]} There was no further correspondence on Cup matters until September 1892 when Dunraven wrote again to the NYYC. Eager to get racing the NYYC accepted Dunraven's renewed challenge on 5 December 1892.

Valkyrie arrived late summer (22 September) having weathered Atlantic storms and just two weeks before the starting race, "she appeared heavier in hull and rig than the American boat, though smaller in beam, length and spars."^[5]

Results

5 October - Racing Cancelled

Despite Valkyrie gaining an impressive lead over the becalmed Vigilant both yachts were eventually becalmed with sails idle on a glassy sea.^[6]

7 October - The First Race

Vigilant won by 5 minutes, 48 seconds.^[6]

Yacht Name	Start			Outer Mark			Actual Time			Finish			Corrected Time
				H	M	S	H	M	S	H	M	S	H	M	S
Vigilant	11	25	00	13	50	50	2	25	50	15	30	47	4	05	47
Valkyrie II	11	25	00	13	58	56	2	33	56	15	38	23	4	11	35

9 October - The Second Race

Vigilant beats Valkyrie II by 10 mins 35 seconds.^[6]

Yacht Name	Start			First Mark			Actual Time			Second Mark			Actual Time			Finish			Corrected Time
				H	M	S	H	M	S	H	M	S	H	M	S	H	M	S	H	M	S
Vigilant	11	25	00	13	06	35	1	41	35	13	56	55	0	50	20	14	50	01	3	25	01
Valkyrie II	11	25	00	13	11	20	1	46	20	14	05	52	0	54	32	15	02	24	3	37	24

13 October - The Third Race

Vigilant beat Valkyrie II by 40 seconds retaining the Cup 3–0.^[6]

Yacht Name	Start			Outer Mark			Actual Time			Finish			Corrected Time
				H	M	S	H	M	S	H	M	S	H	M	S
Vigilant	12	27	00	14	35	35	2	08	35	15	51	39	3	24	39
Valkyrie II	12	27	00	14	33	40	2	06	40	15	53	52	3	25	19

Notes and References

1. from Wikisource
2. A letter from the Royal Yacht Squadron to the New York Yacht Club
3. Web site: DUNRAVEN RAISES THE BAR. Wheatley. Magnus. America's Cup. 25 October 2024.
4. A letter from Lord Windham Thomas Wyndham-Quin, the 4th Earl of Dunraven to Mr J. R. Busk of the New York Yacht Club
5. Book: Lawson, Winfield. 1902. The Lawson History of the America's Cup a Record of Fifty Years.
6. Web site: THE 8TH CHALLENGE. Yves. Gary. America Scoop. 25 October 2023.