Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-09
Today's Defeat the Worst Sustained
by the Vigilant.
HHE BRITISH BOAT WON BY I'M. l6S.
Great Gain by the American Near
the Close.
ENTHUSIASTIC SPECTATORS

|
neighborhood were astir at an early hour
today, and when they glanced to windward
and saw prospects Of freshening in the
| stiffish westerly breeze which was then
blowing they went to breakfast with con-
| siderable satisfaction, anticipating a splen-
did days racing on this the third day of
the regatta Of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
On the horizon angry little clouds were
| chasing each other merrily all over the So
| lent, where white caps were lifting their
| crested heads as the sun at intervals gleam-
| ed through the clouds and enlivened what
| was otherwise dull and frowning morn
| ing.
Interest in the Vigilant increases rather
| than diminishes. Her victories over the
| slippery cutter Britannia have caused in
tense feeling in England and great excite
| ment among the yachtsmen here Conse-
quently the yachting fleet, gay with bunt-
| ing. was crowded with yachtsmen. yachts
| women and their guests. all anxious to wit
| ness 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 prep
| aration for the race.
Here. there and everywhere could be
cular arms, and buzzing little steam or
naphtha launches. conveying guests to the
| yachts, provisioning the yachts or taking
messages from one boat to another There
was bright life and excitement everywhere;
the strain Of nervousness produced by an
ticlpated sport; the keen anticipation of a
closely contested event. The blue blood of
yachting England looked on as the prepa-
rationS for the great event were concluded
the patrons Of British sport being eager
for the start and longing to see the Prince
Of Wales cutter victorious.
TOday's Course.
The Vigilsnt, Britannia, Satanita, Meteor
Corsair and Namara were entered for to-
days event, the town prize of f1OO for all
yachts of not less than thirty tons belong
ing to any recognized yacht club
The course was what is known as the
queens course" somewhat less than fifty
miles Qorty-seven miles estimated), which
varies according to whether the yachts are
ordered to start to the eastward or to the
westward. The sailing committee, selecting
the best wind. decide this point previous to
the starting gun being fired.
Today the committee sent the yachts away
TO the westward only the Vigilant and
britannia starting, the other yachts having
little or no chance of making even a decent
showing with the two cracks. The course
was from the Royal Yacht Squadron castle
buoy, leaving 1t to starboard then eastward,
south of the West Bramble buoy out to sea
and around the Warner lightship, leaving it
on the starboard hand. then back westward
passing north of Norman Fort, leaving 1t to
port: thence back to the starting Doint !.
twice around this course to complete the
nominal fifty miles.
NiSilant today, as on SATURDAY. allowed
the Britannia Pm. As
Vig.lant at first cruised about without a
ciub topsail, but she followed the Britain
MA example and hoisted her tackyarder
Just as the gun was being primed for firing
The dashing Yankee sloop today was a lit
tie too soon, and nearing the line slightly
ahead OF time. she had to mold up for a few
seconds.
britannia Led at the start.
Inc Britannia gagged her time more cor
rectly and crossed the line just as the gun
was fired, securing the weather berth. the
American yacht following three seconds
later.
Inc yachts beat toward the Lepe buoy
very Prettily. the Quickness OF the cutter i'm
stays apparently helping her. for she out
looted the sloop AMI passed the buoy with
lead OF 1 minute ~ seconds. The times
were:
Inns.
V irna .......................1O "a Al
'lShant 10 Sc %
The Britannia vas the first to run out
her spinnaker. the Vigilant following later.
ny this time the wind had freshened, and
pom yachts, carrying flying Jibs. ripped
alorg at spanking pace, every inch of
canvas filled to the utmost, having broad.
roaming streaks of wake behind them and
travelling faster than the ordinary steamer
could do. In this rafting run the Vigilant
perceptibly diminished the gap between her
and the cutter. Passing the Cowes flag
boat going eastward, the two yachts were
timed as follows:
Inns.
Brltai MA IL GA 10
Eigiispt .................11 O5 70
The Vigilant had gained twenty-four sec
ords on her rival in her magnificent run
out to the Warner iightship.
Nigilant continued to gain, and was not
far behind when the Warner lightship was
rourded, in the following times, relatively:
H.M.S.
BiitaEnia ..........................11 4S 10
Nlsllant ............-...... IL 4S 40
Vigilant at this stage of the race was only
twenty-nine seconds behind the leader but
after rounding the lightship the Britannia
began to pull away steadily. The diminish
ing of the Britannias lead on the way to
the Eghtship is attributed to the fact that
on nearing East Cowes Point the Britannia
hauled in her spinnaker.
The Vigilant, on the other hand. held
on to her great cloud Of spinnaker silk with
good results.
The Britannia continued to widen her
lead during the beat back to Cowes, and at
the end of the first round the Vigilant was
about half mile astern. The first round
was completed as follows:
H. NJ S.
britannia ............................. OF ~
Nigiiah1 ~, ,..:.....;...... w -
of clever work in stays during the beat
back to Cowes, had a lead of 2m., 3Ss. at
the end Of the first rourd.
The Britannia in the beat to the Lepe
buoy on the second round increased her
lead 3m. ASS, the mark being rounded in
the following times.
H. NJ. s.
Britannia .............................. d6 ~
NlSllant .......................... ~ ~
After rounding the Lepe mark spinnakers
were again set for the run back to Warner
lightship, and as on the preceding round
Vigilant drew up to the cutter, but in spite
of her gain In the run before the wind, the
position Of the American yacht at this
point of the race gave little hope for her
success, 1t was considered certain that
she would again lose ground on the final
beat back from Warner lghtship to the
finishing line.
Vfgilant's Bottom Scraped.
1t transpired while the yachts were scud-
ding out to sea that during the beat of the
two racers to Lepe buoy on the first round
the Vigilant ran too near the shore and
touched ground slightly in Gumard bay.
But apparently she sustained no damage
worth mentioning.
At the Warner lightship, on the final
round the Britannia was four minutes
ahead Of the Vigilant, and gained material
ly OF the beat back to Cowes, and the Vigil
liant was looked upon as loser.