The evening world., 1894-07-09

Day, Britannia was really to winlWard.
From under Wemyss Castle the yachts
stood long distance out on the port
tack. Britannia going about first In mid
channel and Nigilant going further out.
The breeze was stronger down there and
both were holding finely to the wind,
Britannia. II anything. having the better
weatherly grip, while Nigiant was al
lowed to go freer
Britannia. shortly afterwards, ran up
her smallest jib-topsail and vigilant fol-
lowed suit ii few minutes later.
on the next tack to port Nigilant
showed on Brtannia's weather bow.
There were only few seconds between
them, and both were head to wind for
minute, but paid away again. and
Britannia was seen to race fast through
Nigilant's lee and break clear from
her. They stood out for the westward,
with the view to fetch the Skelmorlie
mark.
On the following turn Britannia first
broke tack to starboard.
Almost BecaImed.
Off Innellan, before noon, the wind
had almost died away, and the two
yachts were nearly motionless.
Nearing Skelmorlie, the first mark,
the two yachts had been for some time
travelling in close company. Nigilant
always had the advantage, but, as she
lost the breeze first, Britannia hauled
her in, getting up on her weather quar-
ter. But Vigilant, in light air. soon
pulled out clear of Britannia's lee,
until she was some lengths ahead when
approaching the Skelmorlie mark.
Nigilant increased her lead, and the
Skelmorlie mark was passed on the first
round in the following time:
II. NJ. S.
Nigilant. ................12 IA Is
britannica. .......................ls 10 II
A slight breeze springing up, both
yachts increased the pace at which they
were travelling.
Britannia Again Lucky.
The wind was more westerly as they
made for Ascog; but, although the light
breeze was steady and Vigilant had
been sailing fast, Britannia also bene-
fitted. and lessened the gap between her
and Vigilant
The American yacht dropped into a
calm when about mile from the Ascog
mark boat, and Britannia amazed the
spectators ashore and afioat by romping
past Vigilant wide on her weather. and
established a good lead before she, in
turn, entered a calm.
Vigilant was fairly hung up In the
doldrums, and scarcely moved for fif-
teen minutes.
Britannia. in the meanwhile, caught
-a x,.ith ~
jibtopsail passed the mark-boat at As
cog ahead.
Vigilant then caught small streak Of
wind. but she was nearly becalmed again
before she made the mark.
The time at the Ascog mark-boat. on
the first round. follows:
H. NJ. 8.
Britannia ..,.. ,.,,......., ..,..l lS 81
Vtgilant ..... ...... ...............1 II IL
Britannia carried her spinnak err
boom to port and Vigilant gybed hers
to starboard. with a higher wind. and
Britannia had to follow suit near Toward
Point.
Too Flukey to lie Interesting.
Owing to the fiuky wind the race was
losing much of Its interest Up to tits
VI the COHttbt NtSlldll Edu
been followed by the worst luck after
sailing well in light airs.
Both yachts left Toward Point, carry
ing spinnakers: but they were sailing
so slowly that 1t was thought possible
that the first round would not be fin
ished by P. NJ. in which case the
race will be decided by the time taken
at the end OF the first round.
Soon after the breeze changed to the
northwest, but 1t was light.
AS the yachts passed Innellan, the
spinnakers were lowered and Vigilant
was closing in.
Reaching out from Innellan. while
making for the Kilcreggan mark-boat.
both yachts met another wind check
from the southeast. They had to gbe
to port, and with balloon staysails and
big jibtopsails commenced making more
way.
Britannia succeeded in keeping ahead
while passing Cloch Point The flood
tide was helping both yachts, but the
wind was still light and fukey.
Nearing Gourock Britannia entered the
dold runs and lay dead on the water
while Nigilant reached up on her
weather under the influence OF faint
southwest puff and passes Britannia,
leaving her almost motionless.
No Wind, VigIant Ahead.
For some time afterwards both yachts
were lying virtually stationary.
As this despatch was sent, at $50 p.
NJ, there was no prospect that the first
round could be finished within an hour,
so it was considered certain that the
race would be finished on the first round.
First Britannia then Vigilant
holsted to .nrt in order to catch the
slightest breath of the southwest air
which swept gently over the water;
but 1t did not have sufficient. strength
to fill the sails OF the racing yachts to
any appreciate extent and they passed
Gourock going no faster than before
A mile out from Gourock the spin
makers were down and the booms were
gybed square to port for slight south
east wind The gap between the two
yachts was then unchanged.
britannia was leading when, nearing
the Kilcreggan markboat, by two min
utes, and it was considered that she was
almost certain to win the race.