The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-19
THE VIGILANT'S MISHAP
suE Ioyr HER CENrKEBOAKD AND
COULD NOT RACE.
Tn. Accident 10 snfd TO Have Been Mere
Scheme to Avoid the Contest-Ihs
Needless Thctscs.

TOTLAND BAY. Aug. r.-Tae orisi-
nal intention Of the committee III Guar sc
Of the match race between the Brit"ii''"
and the Vigilant for the Wolvertoh cup
was to have the racers towod 10 the
starting point by the royal steam yacht
Osborne. and Mr.. Gouid's Ataianta. -.
There was enough breeze nom tne
northwest however. to allow the yachts
TO put out from the rendezvous here I'M
der their own sail. The Atlanta ana the
Osborne preceded the racers.
They We're 10 have been started from
the Osborne, which was 70 have steamed
to Ieeward OF the Needles, fifteen ml.
and there anchor. Had Il not been fDr
an unusual mishap 70 the Nlsiant the
course would have been from a point
fifteen miles southeast or the MCGEE .
dead against the Wlnu' anu run oa'h
with spinualGers set. 40.
Tho Yachts got under way at lO.aO and
passed down the Scent.
The Britannia, after rounding thT Ne
dies headed to the eastwirI lntD ' ,E'.,
water Ray The Nlgiant was then
standing close TO the Needles. she SUI
denly lufred. iowerd her topsal, TOOK IN
ner fore staysail and run down her rae
ing flag 100. l,got.tod and
80 rut ont from the Osborne and
ths ATLANTA to learn the nature Of TN
accident Later a boat from the osborne
conveyed the information 20 the Brltah-
mia That the Nigilant had lost her centre
board. and would not be able 20 race.
The Britannia returned to Cowes uid. 81
sail. and the Nigiiant was tOWed 10
Southampton 10 be repaired.
The sloOp's centrebOard. an immense
plate Of tobin bronze weighing seVeral
tons. had dropped out and zone 10 the
bottom just after she passed the needles.
IT IL STRANGE.
call similar accident in yacht race.
The Ei9ilants board was not hung on
pivot In the old-fashioned way hut was
held in place by detachable gearing. 1t
may be a week before the Nigilant is
able to race again.
Howard Could says th> Vigiiant struck
the ground close 10 the Needles, the
chain OF her centreboard broke, and the
board sank. He Flames Pilot Diaper for
running the sloOp aground Diaper says
that at the time he did not know the
centreboard was down.
Mr.. Gould said he did not think to
Nigilant would get another centreboard
here. he thought she would race again.
however before leaving l9uglsh waters
towards the end OF September.
MERE sCHfME
COWES Aug. lS.-It is impossible 10
deny that there Is u general feeling of
disgust here at what Is believed to have
been mere scheme on the part Of those
sailing the Nlgiiant 10 avoid racing
Among yachtsmeu there Is hardly any one
who does not think that the Vigilant's
centrebOrd was sacrificed for the sake OF
appearances.
Needless tactics after the accident. the
housing Of the top mast, the OstentatiOus
reduction OF sails, the subsequent fun
sailing 20 southampton, and Howard
Goulds readiness 10 De interviewed. are
all regarded as pointing the same moral.
Lord WOlVertOn's immediate withdrawal
Oh me prize shows the opinion that pre-
rails in the Royal Yacht S1uadr0n' 4
resumption Of The racing between the
britannia and the Vigllant is regarded as
extremely doubtful