Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-30
BRITANNIA WINS.
The Old Story Of vigiIant's Defeat in a Light
Breeze.

STEADY, southeast wilma DlOWlng across
| beautiful Mounts bay, one of the most
picturesque parts of England, Vigilant
and Britannia started Saturday morning
on their 18th race, with the score stand
| ing nine races to three in favor OF the
Prince of Wales yacht. 1t had been ar
ranged that A. D. Clarke's Satanita was
| to meet the American yacht. but her sail
| ing master, dissatisfied with the time
| allowance imposed upon him by the re-
gatta committee, telegraphed to Mr..
| Clarke that he was going to Falmouth,
and SO would not race Saturday.
Soon after the Satanita sailed for the
port mentioned, a telegraphic message
| was received at Penzance for the Satan
| ita's commander, in which her owner or
dered the yacht to be raced under any
conditions. But it was too late; the
Satanita was by that time well on her
way to Falmouth. In celebration of the
Mounts Bay regatta, Penzance was in
holiday trim, flags were flying every
where and everybody turned out to enjoy
the days sport Thousands upon thou
sands of people during the early morning
| hours fiocked into Penzance from all the
neighboring towns along the coast. deter
mined to see the big race at all hazards.
The fame of the American racer has
spread far and wide in England, and her
praises are to be heard on all sides The
sloop, her owner, her commander and
her crew have made friends everywhere
by their sportsmanlike conduct. The
race was for a prize of $500 given by the
town committee, and not for yacht club
prize as in all previous contests between
the two cracks.
As to the course it was beyond question
good one, we'll out to sea and back to
Port Leven and from there home. The
first leg was about eight miles long.
almost due south TO mark boat anchored
off the coast; from that mark the second
leg was nine miles due east to Port Leven,
in Mounts bay, where mark boat No. 2
was anchored and from there another leg
of eight miles, completed the 25 miles,
making one-half of the course; twice
around completed the
Tota, Distance of Fifty Miles.
A more beautiful morning for race
could not easily be imagined; the sky was
clear, the southeast wind steady and
fresh, and the glorious waters of the bay
sparkled with silver crests. In the dis
lance old Mount ST. Michael lowered
sentinel-like over the scene, grand sight
in itself. All over the bay the white sails
of large and small yachts glistened in
the sun, and the strains of enlivening
music from the excursion steamers near
the starting line added to the joyousness
Of the spectacle.
Both racers had their club topsails up
just previous to the start, and when the
gun WAS fired, which sent them on their
way, they dashed over the line in beauti-
full style. The start was as fine one as
could be desired, though the Britannia
got away about a length ahead of the
Vigilant. Both yachts ran out to sea at
a rafting pace, blowing along as if pro-
PEELED by steam instead of by canvas
alone. The Esplanade was thronged with
people as the yachts got away and the
hills overlooking the bay were covered
with spectators.
The 40-rater cutter Corsair with 35m
| los. time allowance, also started, but she
was virtually out of the race at the first
mark. The Britannia increased her lead
on the reach to the open sea- she was
standing in closer to the land and was
racing along splendidly. Both yachts
took a couple of tacks to weather the
mark, the Vigilant coming further east
ward. The Britannia, in the meanwhile,
was increasing the gap between herself
and the sloop and passed the first mark
boat quite half mile ahead. The times
of the two yachts at mark boat No /, on
ha rit
3lm. 30s.; Vigilant, l1h. 53m. 55s.
| The wind by this time had hauled
southwark slightly, and was lighter than
at the start. The Vigiiant hoisted her
big jib topsail on rounding the mark and
Chased After the Cutter
| in fine style. The Britannia, however,
was still gaining on the broad reach to
Port Leven, which she passed in the lead
The times of the two yachts, on the first
round at mark boat .. off Port Leven
were: Britannia. 12h. 16m 30s.; Vigilant,
12h. ION. los. Therefore, the Britannia
had lead of I'm. 40s. here, having gained
los. on the last leg.
| After passing the mark the Britannia
set her spinnaker to port on the run home
and the Vigilant did the same as soon as
she got round and both yachts ran along
very fast with stronger wind. The Vigil
liant gained on this run before the wind
and diminished the gap between her and
the cutter. The sails of both yachts were
well filled, the breeze remaining steady,
although moderate in force. AS the two
| yachts approached the home mark the
esplanade was black with multitudes of
people excitedly watching the racers.
| This excitement was increased when the
| Vigilant tried to get on the Britannia's
weather. but she was too far away to
succeed, as the cutter was about a quar-
| ter of mile to the northward and nearer
| the mark boat. The first round was com
| pleted as follows: Britannia, III. lam SIS :;
| Vigilant, 1h. I'm. Ss.
Britannia consequently had lead Of
2 minutes 10 seconds on the Vigilant at
the end of the first round. but she had
| lost ~ seconds on the run before the wind
| from the last mark boat home The
wind was more southerly as the yachts
headed away on the second round and
they were obliged to engage in deal
beat to the open sea mark boat. Thus
there was a better prospect of the Vigil
liant pulling up on the Prince of Wales
yacht.
At the open sea mark boat, on TIT
second round. the following were the