New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-25
VIGILANT AT HER BEST.
THE BRITANNIA DEFEATED IN LIGHT
WINDS.

UNPARALLELED SPEED SHOWN BY MR. GOULD
YACHT UNDER THE coNDITrONs-sHE LED
FROM START TO FINISH AND WON
BY 3:25 SLIGHT MrsHAPs TO
BOTH YACHTS.
Roche's Point Ireland. July 2i--The Vgilant won
her third victory over the Britannia to-day. The
surprising feature Of the race was the remarkably
light weather speed developed by the Vigilant 1t
has never been paralleled under similar conditions
over a fifty-mle course In her races with the VAL
kyre off Sandy Hook the best hourly average OF the
Vigiant was $50 knots. Her hourly average to-day
was 9G7 which is about half a knot better than the
speed which the Britannia attained In her quickest
previous race except yesterdays, over an inside
course.
The wind was light from start to finish, and fiuc-
tuatad between northeast and east Its force varied
slightly probably not more than two knots Inc
Britannia accounted for OF her loss after four
nfths OF the had been sailed and the Wig
liant was nearly four minutes ahead by the foul
ing of her splnnaker 1t was caught on the topmast
stay just as she rounded Daunts Rock Lghtshp
on her way home. SIZE forced TO huff up TO save
the big sail But this slight loss was more than
counterbalanced by the loss OF the Nisilaht "hne
running free to Daunts Rock from Poor Head on
the last round. She broke the Jaws or her gaIi'
and her nimble sailors went aloft and made rough
and hurried job OF splicing which held out to the
finish.
ENTHUSIASM AT THE FINISH
The Vigant won the Royal Cork Yacht Clubs
lO0-guinea trophy by minutes and q seconds cor
rected time on the surmlse that she allows minute
and 10 seconds to the Britannia. On actual time
she won by minutes and 81 seconds. She LED AZ
all the nine turns OF the and proved herself
in a fairly steady light breeze better yacht than
the cutter The impression here Is that the Nlgant
has completely recovered her old form, and Is pre-
pared 20 tackle the cutter in any kind OF breeze
which has staying qualities. British yachtsme1
think II a square victory In true li3ht breeze
Captain Hank Half and his men are Jubiant. The
V,1ilant received n rousing welcome at the finish.
Stpntorian Irish cheers mingled with the bark and
thunder OF big and little guns and the shriekng of
steam whistles. Both sides Of the entrance TO the
harbor. ranging 1/width from about halt nile
10 a mile were thronged with sghtseers as victor
ard vanquished sailed through the strait to the
home mark.
A Hight northeastery wind. lowering sky and
chilling driEzle from SEWARD the weather con-
dtlons in which the race started The course
was from Ro,nes Point 50 uth-southeast about four
miles 10 Poor Head thence In a southwesterly direc-
ton about five miles TO and around Daunts ROCK
Lightship. and thence north about Ave miles 10
Roche's Point This triangular course was sailed
over thren times. with final leg Of about five
miles extending into la1d-lccked waters 70 SPIT
Lighthouse. with turn 10 the westward. hnisning
in front OF the yacht clubhouse.
There was little manoeuvrng for advantage AT
the start. The yachts came for the line as the
starting gun doomed and crossed almost beam TO
beam at lO30O2. The Vigant somewhat 70
wlndward but the Britannia slightly ahead
and was then IN little danger OF blanketiug, az
the light northeaster forward Of the port beam
As they crossed they broke out their jbtopsaiis IL
was clubtopsal weather and the lofty canvas was
set The Vigilant finally sailed through the Britain
MAS weather and her sails trembed with the
blanketlng she received. The Britanna's skipper
decided 10 make an effort 10 return the compliment
and when half way Poor Head ran under the
Vierant's stern. The cutter did not have the speed
70 accomplish her purpose The Ngilant turned
the Poor Head mark leading by forty seconds As
the yachts were timed together at the start this
represented the Vigants gain on the four-mile leg
The wind had shifted 70 the eastward, but was sun
fair enough for spinnakers when the yachts squared
away for Daunt's Rock Lightshp. The Britannia
set her big side sail flying IN English fashion. ana
the Viglant broke hers from stops. The breeze
was stu light This apparent by the time OF
the run made with all kites flying 10 the lightshp.
The Vgilant gained only twelve seconds on her
rival and was nfty-two seconds ahead when they
were thus timed turning Daunts Rock:
h. m
Vlgilant % -,