The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-10
JOHN BULLS DAY.
Brother Jonathan Was
Not In 1t.
DEFEAT OF THE VIGILANT.
Beaten by the Britannia in a
High Wind.
REGULAR YANKEE WEATHER.
Yet the Union Jack Walked Right
Away From the Stars and
Stripes.
DEFEAT OF THE VIGILANT.
REGULAR YANKEE WEATHER.

CoWEs, Aug. 9.-The yachting enthusl-
asts of Cowes and its neighborho0d were
astir at an early hour to-day, and when
they glanced to the windward and saw
prospects of freshenlng in the stlffenlng
westerly breeze which was then blowing
they went to breakfast With considerable
satisfaction, anticipating splendid days
racing on this the third day of the regatta
OF the Royal Yacht Squadron.
Interest in the VigiIaut increases rather
than diminishes Fer victories over the
slippery cutter Britannia have caused ia
tense feeling in England and great excite
ment among yachtsmen\ here. Conse-
quently the yachting feet, gay with bunt-
ing. was crowded with yachtsmen and
their guests, all anxious to witness another
struggle between the rivals so powerfully
graceful beneath their clouds of canvas
as they swept about, skillfully guided.
some time before the start, testing the
wind and stretching their sails In prepara-
ton for the race.
The Vigilant, Britannia, Satanita, Me-
teor, Corsair and Namaria were entered
for to-day's event. the Town prize of e100
for all yachts of not less than thirty tons,
belonging TO any recognized yacht club
The course was what is known as the
Queens course, somewhat less than fifty
miles (forty-seven miles estimated) which
varies according to whether the yachts are
ordered to start to the eastward or to the
westward.
To-day the committee sent the yachts
away to the westwa ard, only the Vigilant
and Britannia starting. the other yachts
hou ipo ban of L
a decent showing with the two cracks.
The VIgilant to-day, as on Saturday, al
lowed the Britannia minutes 4 seconds.
The dashing Yankee sloop was a little
too soon. and nearing the line slightly
ahead of time she had to hold up for few
seconds The Britannia gauged her time
more correctly and crossed the line just as
the gun was fired, securing the weather
berth. the American yacht following three
seconds later. The Britannia at the end
of the first round had lend of 2 minutes
3S seconds. The yachts beat toward the
Lepe buoy very prettily, the quickness of
the cutters instays helping her, for she
outfooted the sloop. The Britannia was
the first to run out her spinnaker. the
Vigilant following later During the beat
of the two races TO Lepe buoy the Vigilant
ran too near the shore and touched ground
slightly in Goumard Bay. but apparently
sustained no damage worth mentioning.
The Vigilant gained q seconds ON her
rival in the magnificent run out to the
Warner lightship, but the Britannia then
began to widen her lead during the beat
back to Cowes, leaving the Vigilant half a
mile astern at the end of the first round.
In the second round the Britannia in
creased her lead to 8 minutes 4S seconds.
On the way home from the Warner light
ship the wind shifted so as to make it
close reach, and this enabled the sloop to
pull up on the cutter. but the Britannia
maintained the lead, although the VigiIant
gained on her considerably while reaching
for Cowes.
When nearing the markboat both yachts
had TO make a short board to fetch the
finishing line, which the cutter eventually
crossed winner. Time. Britannia 3 hrs
II min. 50 Sec. Vigilant 3 hours 20 min. Z
sec.
The Britannia won by 2 minutes II
seconds without counting her time allow
ance. The victory of the Britannia called
forth a tremendous cheering from the
Britishers ashore and afloat. The Ameri-
cans on shore raised goouly cheer when
the Vigilant crossed the line. defeated, but
not disgraced. Emperor William followed
the race with interest. The Prince of
Walss was on the Britannia and Messrs.
Gould and Oliver Iselin were on board the
Vigilant.
1t is admitted by the Vigilants warm
est admirers that her defeat upon this oc-
q no I'm n on
during her brilliant career. This was the
sixteenth race in which the rival Ameri-
can and British yachts have taken part,
and the score now stands II to in favor
of the Britannia.
Mr.. Gould's challenge for the Cape May
cup has excited much interest in yachting
circles. The cup was won by the Geneva
in 1885. Since then it has passed in sue
cession to the Irex and Wendura, while
the Breton Reef cup. also brought to Eng
land by the Geneva, remained in the keep
Ing of the Royal Yacht Squadron until
challenged for by the Navahoe, which
yacht recaptured that trophy in race
around Cherbourg Breakwater and back,
120 miles.
Mr.. Gould has also declared informally
that he is willing to sail three races
against the Britannia for $1,000. Ii these
races are arranged they will be sailed as
nearly as possible upon the basis of the
International yacht races sailed in the
United States.
George j. Gould aud the Prince of Wales
have arranged for special match for
next Monday between the Britannia and
the Vigilant for el00 side. The course
is to be fifteen miles out from the Needles
and back. The Vigilant people say there
is no truth in the report that she touched
ground to-day. but on the first round.
when the yachts were invisible from this
place, the Vigilants forestay top was
carried away, and in the second round the
Vigilant's spinnaker split. While neither
Captain Half, Mr.. Gould nor any other
persons on board the Yankee sluop alleges
that her defeat was due TO these mishaps
the Vigilant certainly was handicapped
by these arrangements of her sails.