Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-05
THE VIGILANT WON.

Tho Princes Yacht Britannia Beaten In
strong wird-A Fifty Mile Race ovor
tho Queens Course for n Prize OF 100
PounGs-An Exciting Chase.
: CowEs. ISLE OF WIGHT, August A.
George Gould's yacht Vigilant has re-
deemed the promise OF her sailing mas
ter that, given deep water and strong
wind, she would defeat the Prince OF
Wales's crack boat Britannia. The
lace to-day was fifty miles, twice over
the queens course from off the castle
at Cowes westward to and around East
Lepe buoy, leaving it on the starboard
hand and then westward, passing near
the West Bramble buoy, 10 aud around
the Warner lightship.
The prize was $500 and the race the
fourteenth between these two boats, OF
which the Britannia has won ten.
The start was In stiffish westerly
breeze a large crowd watched the first
half of the race from shore, but about
the time 1t was completed drizzling
rain set 1t. Some seconds advantage was
with the Britannia in the send of AZ
1O:40, but the Vlgilant quickly overcame
IL and was put in the lead, which she
held to the finish, only once coming
near being put In second place.
There was great excitement rs the
two yachts, with ordinary top-sails and
medium jibs and fore-sails, glided grace
fully along, pointing eatward until they
passed the flag boat which, out Of COM
pliment to the Americans, was flying
the Stars and Staipes. opposite the
Royal Yacht SQuadron's castle, when
both swung round virtually together, in
order to pass the line. The yachts
looked beautiful, powerful and swift. as
they sped along, beam for beam, with
the Britannia or the Vigilant's port
side, and holding the weather position.
Their sails were well filled and nothing
prettier could be imagined than the
sight they presented as they went on
starbOard tack toward the opposite
shore, sailing through an immense feet
Of yachts and affOrding all on board the
latter a splendid view Of the two racers
before the real struggle commenced.
The fact that the two cracks were
obliged TO thread their way through this
feet OF pleasure craft, prevented the
Vigilant from getting out as readily as
her opponent When the boats got into
less crowded water, however. the Vigil
liant opened out and soon drew level.
Then for half mile. it was first one
boats bowsprit and then the others
showing In front, With two tacks
passed, the Lepes buoy Highland mark
boat time was as follows: Vigilant, 10
hours, 55 minutes and seconds; Brit
tannia, 10 hours and Sc minutes.
As they ran back for the warner
lightship, the ViRilant was still gaining,
passing the home mark-boat In. Is.
ahead. At Ryde pier, going eastward,
Vigil&nt had lead Of 4m. 40s.. showing
gain OF nearly 4m. Running east
ward, the Vigilant gained rapidly, but
in beating back against the wind the
Britannia gained slightly, aud she pass
ed Ryde pier, on the return from the
Warner llghtship, only 2m. los. behind
the Vigilani.
A long reach brought the yachts back
to Cowes for the completion OF the first
round. the time being as follows: Vigil
liant, ~ hours, 81 minutes, Is seconds;
Britannia IL hours. IL minutes, sec
onds.
The VlgIlant's lead here was 3 min
utes and so seconds, only 20 seconds
more than the time allowance. The
yachts now had hauled around slightly
southwark, and the wind was strong
enough TO heel the two yachts over
most gracefully, every inch OF canvas
being filed and their bottoms showing
up clearly.
After rounding Lepes buoy on the
second round the yachts returned In
a free race and repassed Cowes, with
the Vigilant 4 minutes sDd s seconds
ahead. The American yacht, on going
out OF sight around the eastern point
Of Cowes, on the fnal round, had fur
ther increased her lead 0y seconds.
Passing Ryde pier, going 20 the east
ward, on the last round. the Vigilant
was 5 minutes aud Is seconds ahead.
Warner lightship WAS hidden in fog
when the yachts passed it. Returning
they came in sight Of Cowes. about
mile from home, with the VigilAnt 5
minutes and 55 seconds in the lead.
The times at the finish were: Vigil
lant. hours, 81 minutes and 40 Sec
onds: Britannia, 2 hours, A minutes
and 30 seconds.
Consequently, the Vizilant won By 6
minutes and so seconds actual time,
and bv minutes and 55 seconds cor
rected time. Taking the starting time
as lO:40 aDd the Vigilant's finishing
time as 2:37:40. it will be seen that she