The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-18
VICTORIOUS VIGILANT.
She Takes the Lead in the Race
for the Astor Cup.
A CLOSE AND EXCITING CONTEST.

In the Opinion of Yachtsmon the vigiIant
America Cup Against Lord Dunraven's
yalkyrie-The Jubilee Came In Second.
NEWPORT, r. l., Aug 1s.-The America
cup is safe. The defender is as good as
chosen Such was the unanimous verdict
of every expert yachtsman that witnessed
the race off Brenton Reef yesterday. 1t
was the first fair merits Of the respective
boats, and the Vigilant sailed like witch
and stood up like house. No more
superb burst of speed has ever been wit
messed in this or any other country than
that made by the Vigilant as she gybed
around the outer mark, eased her sheets
and ran for the finish. 1t was not only
great victory for the Vigllant, but the
triumph of ideas for the ordinary center
board. The type of boat that has so ably
defended the CUP thoroughly and effec-
lively outsailed fin keels and every other
device that could be attached to the bot
tom of racing craft.
On board all OF the big sloops there was
no dearth of talent, for each skipper had
an advisory board with him. Nat HERES
hoff and Hank Hoff sailed the Colonia,
Designer Stewart helped Captain Sherlock
or the Pilgrim, General Paine advised
with Jack Barr ON the Jubilee, and c. Oli-
yer lselin was by the side of Skipper Hau-
sen on the Vigilant throughout the entire
race Despite all this array OF skilled and
experienced men, the Vigilant sneaked
through their lees and blnnketed them
whenever she felt disposed. The wind
blew steady and strong from start to fin
ishI and neither iluke nor calm marred any
part of the contest.
AT 1l:33 the signal gun to start the big
sloops doomed across the water. Almost
simultaneously with the gun the Jubilee
and the Nigilant both on the starboard
tack, bore down for the line and crossed
close under the flagship, with the Jubilee
to windward. After them came the
Colonia, about length astern, and then
came the Nigilant.
All of the yachts carried jibs, staysails,
mainsails and club topsails, breaking ont
their baby ih topsails as they went over
the line. The Jubilee and Pilgrim soon
took on their light sails, however, followed
by the others a half hour later. The Pill
grim now ran through the lee of the
Jubilee and seemed to shoot rapidly ahead,
but she was treated to a dose of the same
medicine few minutes later. The Colonia
was now about SEQ yards astern of the
Pilgrim, and the Vigilant the same dis
eating right up into the wind.
At 1850 the Pilgrim, having been blan-
ketcd by the Jubilee, split tacks with the
Others an stood of to the southwest and
passed astern Of the Vigilant. This left
the three others in line ahead on the star
board tack, with the Jubilee leading, but
to leeward Of the Colonia, which was in
turn to lceward Of the Vigilant. OF the
three boats the Nigilant seemed to hold a
better luif and her sails were set neater.
The Nigilant was so far to windward that
she had easily the lead of the others Even
thus early it looked as though the Vigi-
liant was a sure winner.
So on to the end of the race the Vigilant
at every turn showed her superiority. The
Vigilant seemed to hold better lutf and
move faster through the water as she
neared the turning mark red flag upon
buoy, fifteen miles to windward of
Brentous Reef lightship. The yachts gybed
around in the following order; VigilRnt,
BOOST; Jubilee, 212:2O; Colonia, 2:13I5;
Pilgrim, 21642
In the run home the Vigilant held her
lead, and would have probably increased
il had not the weather been SO thick that
she mistook another vessel for the light
ship and stood too far to the eastward.
This necessitated her taking in the spin
maker and balloon jibtopsail, gybing over
to the port tack, and losing probably three
or four minutes.
The Jubilee and Colonia held each other
to the finish, but the Pilgrim, carrying
away the jaws of her gatf, gave up the
race. The Jubilee, after crossing the
finish, also carried away hers.
The following is the summary OF the
races