The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-18
AMERICA CUP DEFENDERS.
The Vigilant Considered a Certain
Winner Of the Trophy.

]
and Standing Like House."
Brentons Point, r. l., Aug. IA good
breeze was blowing from the seaward this
morning and every indication favored a
good run by the cup defenders for the
Astor cup.
THE START.
AT 11:35 they were sent away in smart
white cap breeze. The Pilgrim had the
weather berth on the start, with Jubilee
just to leeward; Colonia was third by over
a minute, with the Vigilant astern and
under the lee of the leaders, The time of
the start was as follows; Pilgrim, II 3d.
40; Vigilant, IL 1:35:1O; Colonia, II :3445;
Jubilee, 11:33,25. All four were wearing
baby iib topsails and club topsails over
full lower sails.
NETWORKS ACCOUNT OF THE RACE.
NEWPORT, II. l., Aug. 17.-"The cup is
safe. The defender is as good as chosen"
Such was the unanimous verdict of every
expert yachtsman who witnessed to-day's
| race off Breton reef. 1t was the first fair
test of the merits of the respective boats,
and the Vigilant sailed like a witch and
stood up like house. No more superb
burst Of speed has ever been witnessed in
this or any other country than that made
by the Vigilant as she gibed around the
outer mark, eased her sheets and ran for
the finish.
| GREAT VICTORY FOR THE CENTERBoARD.
1t was not only great victory for the
Vigilant, but triumph Of American ideas,
| for the ordinary everyday centerboard,
the type of boat that has so ably defended
the cup, thoroughly and effectively out
| sailed fins, inkeels and every other device
that could be attached to the bottom Of
racing craft.
On board of the big sloops there was no
dearth of talent, for each skipper had
an advisory board with him. Nat
| Herreshoff and Hank Hoff sailed the Col
onia; Designer Stewart helped Capt.
Sherlock on the Pilgrim; Gen. Paine ad-
vised w. Jack Barr on the Jubilee, and @.
Oliver was by the side of Skipper Hetusen
throughout the entire race.
MOST GRATIFYING TEST OF SPEED.
Despite all this array of skilled and ex-
perienced men, the Vigilant sneaked
through their lees and blanketed them
whenever she felt so disposed The wind
blew steady and strong from start to
finish. and neither fluke nor foam marred
any part of the contest.
At II :85 O'Clock the signal gun to start
the big sloops doomed across the water
Jubilee and Pilgrim, bow to bow on the
starboard tack, bore down for the line
and crossed close under the flagship with
the Jubilee windward. After them came
the COlonia, about length astern, and
then the Vigilant, making half board as
she went over the line. All of the
yachts carried iibs, staysails, mainsails
and club tOpsails as they went over the
line,
AS THEY BROKE AWAY TOGETHER.
The Jubilee and Pilgrim soon took in
their light sails, however, followed by
the others half hour later The Pilgrim
now ran through to lee of the Jubilee and
seemed to shoot rapidly ahead, but she
was treated to dose of the same medi
cine few minutes later. The Colonia was
now about 500 yards astern Of the Pill
grim and the Vigilant the same distance
from the Colonia, though she was eating
right, up into the wind.
At so O'Clock the Pilgrim, having
been blanketed by the Jubilee, split tacks
with the others and stood off to the esouth-
west and westward and passed astern of
the Vigilant. This left the three others
in line ahead on the starboard tack, with
the Jubilee leading, but to leeward of the
Colonia, which was in turn to leeward of
the Vigilant. OF the three boats
the Vigilant seemed to hold better
and her sails were set neater. The Vigi-
liant was so far to the windward that she
had easily the lead of the others. Even
thus early in the day it looked as though
the Vigilant was a sure winner. About
ten minutes after the Jubilee tackled the
Pilgrim went about and stood over in the
direction of the three sloops AS the
racers drew together there was intense
excitement to learn whether the Pilgrim
had gained or lost by splitting tacks with
| the others
THE QUESTION SOON SETTLED.
AT 12:45 the question was settled, for
the Pilgrim crossed the Colonials bow ten
| Yards ahead. AS she stood over toward
the Vigilant, having the right of way, IL
was thought that she would force the
bronze boat about She passed astern of
her by 100 yards, however, and then ran
over toward the Jubilee. She did not
wait to cross her bow, but went about
Just ahead of her. This left all four of
the boats close hauled in the port tack,
with the Vigilant first, Pilgrim second,
Colonia third and Jubilee fourth.
RELAxEs HER ADVANTAGE.
At 1:07 the Colonia went on the star
| board tack and, to the surprise of every
body, crossed the Pilgrims bow, losing
the advantage she had gained The Co
lonia did not stand long Oh the starboard
tack, but went about to port just before
]
were now standing southwark on the port
tack, with the Vigilant well in the lead
| and TO windward. Over 10 leeward, and
| almost bow and bow with the Vigilant,
| there was a battle royal between the
Colonia and Pilgrim. They both scanned
to out-foot the Vigilant, but 1t did aot do
them any good
THE PILGRIM LOSES GROUND.
At ~ the Pilgrim began to fall astern,
! taclking to the starboard and passing
astern of the Colonia. She stood on to
the eastward and tried to force the Jubi-
lee about. She failed, however, and
passed astern, having lost everything
she had gained by splitting tacks. The
Pilgrim was now the last boat, the order
| being: Vigilant, Colonia, Jubilee and
| Pilgrim. The Jubilee held on to the port
tacks much longer than the others, not
going on the starboard tack until / :35.
| All four of the boats were now on the
| starboard tack, with the Vigilantswel in
the lead and to windward At ! 80 the
| Vigilant tackled and crossed the bows of
| the others more than a mile ahead. The
/ Colonia followed three minutes later
| The Vigilant seemed TO move faster
| through the water as she neared the turn
/ ing mark. The yachts went around in
| the following order: Vigilant, 2:00:37;
Jubilee, 2:12;20; Colonia, 2:l3;25; Pill
| grim, 2:16:42.
i 49,. .,eo.rg