The record-union., 1894-08-10
speciaI to the REcoRD-UN1ox.

Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN-
CowEs, Aug. 9.-The yachting enthusi-
asts of Cowes and its neighborhood were
astir at an early hour to-day, and when
they glanced to the windward they saw
prospects of freshening in the stiffening
westerly breeze, which was then blowing,
they went to breakfast with considerable
satisfaction, anticipating a splendid days
racing on this, the third day Of the re-
gatta of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
Interest in the yigilant increases rather
than diminishes Her victories over the
slippery cutter Britannia have caused in
tense feeling in England and great ex-
element among yachtsmen here. Con-
geqnently the yachting fleet, gay with
bunting, was crowded with yachtsmen,
yaehtswomen and their guests, all anx-
ious 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 preparation tor the race.
The Vigilant, Britannia, Satanita, Cor
sair, Meteor and Namaria were entered
for to-day's event, the town prize of 9100,
belonging to any recognized yacht club.
The course was what is known as the
Queens course, somewhat less than fifty
miles tfOrty-seven miles estlmated) which
varies according TO whether the yachts
are ordered to start to the westward or to
the eastward. To-day the committee
sent the yachts away to the westward,
only the VigiIant and Britannia starting.
the other yachts having little or no chance
of making even a decent showing with
the two cracks.
The Vigilant to-day, as on Saturday,
allowed the Britannia two minutes and
four seconds.
The dashing Yankee sloop to-day was
a little too soon, and nearing the line
slightly ahead of time, she had to hold
up for a few seconds. The Britannia
gauged her time more correctly, and
crossed the line just as the gun was fired,
securing the weather berth, the Amerl-
can yacht following three seconds later.
The Britannia at the end of the first
round had a lead of two minutes thirty
eight seconds. The yachts beat toward
the Lepe buoy very prettily, the quick
ness of the cutters instays helping her,
tor she outfooted the sloop.
The Britannia was the first to run out
her spinnaker, the Vigilant following
later.
During the beat of the two racers to
Lepe buoy, the Vigllant ran too near the
shore and touched ground slightly in
Goumard Bay, although she apparently
sustained no damage worth mentioning.
The Vigilant gained "a 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 a
half mile astern at the end of the first
round.
a. D~.4o
creased her lead to three minutes, rs sec
onds. On the way home from the War
ner hghtship the wind shifted so as to
make it a close reach, and this enabled the
sloop to pull up on the cutter. But the
Britannia maintained the lead, although
the Vigilant gained on her considerably
while reaching for Cowes. When near
ing the mark boat both yachts had to
make a short board to fetch the finish
ing line, which the cutter eventually
crossed winner. Time, 3 hours, II min
utes, % seconds; Vigilant, hours, 20
minutes, seconds.
The Britannia won by 2 minutes, II
seconds, without counting her time al
]owance.
The victory of the British called forth
tremendous cheer from the Britishers
ashore and afoat. The Americans on
shore raised a goodly cheer when the
Nigilant crossed the line defeated, but not
disgraced. Emperor William followed
the race with interest. The Prince CT
Wales was on the Britannia and Messrs.
Gould and Oliver Iselin were on board
the Vigilant. =
It is admitted by the Vigjlan's warm
est admirers that her defeat upon this oc-
casion was the worst she has sustained
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 IL to in favor
of the Britannia.
MIR. 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 succession to the 1reX and
NYendura, while the Breton Reef cup,
also brought to England by the Geneva,
remained in the keeping of the Royal
Yacht Squadron until challenged for by
the Navahoe, which yacht recaptured
that trophy in race around Cherbourg
break water and back, 40 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 interna-
tional yacht races sailed in the United
States.
SPECIAL MATCH ARRANGED.
CowEs, Aug. 9.-George J. Gould and
the Prince of Wales have arranged for a
special match for next Monday between
the britannia and Vigilant for 500 side.
,phe course is to be fifteen miles out from
the Needles and back. The Vigilant peo-
pie say there is no truth in the report that
she touched ground to-day, but on the
first round, when the yachts were invisi-
BILE from this place, the Vigilant's fore
stay top was carried away, and in the
second round the Vigilants spinnaker
split. While neither Captain Half nor
Afr. Gould nor any any other person on
board the Yankee sloop alleges her de-
feat was due to these mishaps, the Vigi-
liant certainly was handicapped by these
arrangements of her sails.