The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-08-17
THE CUP DEFENDERS.
Off Today in the Race for the
AstOr Cup.
THE PILGRIM IN BETTER FORM.

Each Of the Four Big sloops Have Ad-
herents who Cheorfuly Back Their
Opinions with Cash-Ihe Intern ati oual
Races win Probably Begin Sept. es.
NEWPORT, r. l., Aug 17-The cup de-
Tenders Jubilee, Vgilaut, Calluna and
Pilgrim started shortly after II o'clock to-
day in the race for he Astor cup. The
course is fifteen miles to windward and
return
The Vigilant is the favorite in the bet
ting, but each of the other three big yachts
have their adherents who cheerfully back
their opinions with cash
The cup defender Vigilant ran into
Brenton's Cove yesterday afternoon an
hour ahead of the New York Yacht club
fleet She was not racing, nor had she
sailed along in company with the other
boats having left New Bedford at o'clock
in the morning to jog along under easy
canvas as far as Brenton's Reef of the
lightship the Vigilant espied the Pilgrim
standing towards her, close hauled on the
port tack. The fin keel was not out for
fun, but seemed on business bent. She
stood over toward the reef till almost
abeam of the centre board sloop, when she
went about, and a sudden shift of wind
gave them both some windward threshing
to reach the harbor
Commodore James d. Smith, chairman
of the American cup committee, and Mr.
A. Cass Garfield were on board the Pill
grim anxiously watching every move of
the rival boats. 1t was the evident inten-
tion of the Pilgrim to have met the Vigi-
liant further Off shore and given her battle
on the open sea. The Iseen boat had left
much sooner than was expected and was
consequently too near the harbor to give
the Pilgrim fair chance at her danger
ously speedy rival. They tackled about
each few times, however, but it was diff
ticult to say which boat showed the better
form. There were some decided improve
ment III each, for the Vigilant was fettered
with new and larger mainboom. A spar
that had been sent down to her by the
Herreshoffs, and the working topsail of
the Pilgrim was laced tighter down to the
boom.
A reporter of the United Press inter
viewed Commodore Smith after his return
to the Pocohontas. Yes, it is true" he
said that Commodore Garfield and [
were invited to take a sail upon the new
cup defender She was merely out for
practice, and our presence had no official
significance. We had sailed on the other
big sloops at different times, and gladly
accepted this invitation to visit the Pill
grim"
''What do you think of her as compared
with the other cup defenders was asked.
THAT is a question which privately |
would be pleased to answer, but my Of
fetal position in theAmerican cup commit
tee prevents my expressing any public
opinion until after the trial races l will
say, however, that both Mr. Garfield and
myself were very much pleased with the
Pilgrims work today In fact, l think
Americans should be proud of such speci-
mems of naval architecture as these four
big slOops''
'Will they not be measured before the
raceP
II fear not, though we have expressed
our opinion very strongly on the subject
and so have the regatta committee. This
is in their province, however, and not ours.
1t will of course be impossible to decide
which is the winner if the races are at all
close"
Has your commander decided whether
to change the date Of the international
racer"
well, we have made no official an
nouncement of the fact, but after receiv-
ing Lord Dunravens request that they
be sailed earlier, if possible, we have made
every effort to comply. l think you can
be safe in saying that the trials will boz
gin Sept. and the cup races Sept. 2s."