'Valkyrie' was quickly put in racing trim, and on the arrival of Lord Dunraven all the final arrangements for the contest were settled and both yachts prepared for the struggle, the last act being the docking of them to make their wetted surfaces as smooth and repellent of water as possible. 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. [Illustration: 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. _First Race, October 7, 1893_ +---------+-----+--------+--------+--------+---------+ | -- |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 | Second | Finish |Elapsed |Corrected| | -- | | mark | mark | | | | +---------+-----+--------+--------+--------+--------+---------+ | |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 | +---------+-----+--------+--------+--------+--------+---------+ '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.