Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-20
THE VlGIIAN1's ACCIDENT.
Her Patent Centerboard Gear Sends II On a
Hunt After McGint.

FREsHwATER GATE, Isle of Wight, Aug.
i9-Saturday morning opened dull and
cloudy and with light west northwest
breeze blowing and small prospects for
good racing weather for the match race
between the Vigilant and the Britannia,
| arranged between George j. Gould and
the Prince of Wales, for the cup offered by
Lord Wolvcrton and valued at $500.
Both yachts arrived at Totland bay
before II O'Clock, and owing to the dircc-
| ton of the wind the markboat was then
being placed long distance out, off Ather-
field, southeast Of the Needles, in order ap-
parcntly to give the yachts Is miles beat
to windward and run home of the same
distance.
The Vigilant and Britannia left Totland
bay shortly before IL a. IN. and made for
the starting point. BY that time many
hundreds of people began gathering on the
bluffs in order to watch the race and a
| feet of excursion steamers and yachts
commenced assembling in order to view
/ the start Both yachts were carrying
club-topsails and the wind began shifting
50 the northwest without increasing in
| strength.
The Atalanta with the Gould family on
board and the royal yacht Osborne, with
| the queen and distinguished party on
board were preparing to follow the race.
The Prince Of Wales was aboard the Bri-
| tannia and George Gould was on board the
Vigilunt.
Soon after the yachts started scaward,
/ it seemed that the conditions of the race
| had apparently been reversed, and that it
W as to be run to lecward, and beat
| back, as George ]. Gould originally
wanted. 1t then appeared as if the yachts
were preparing to start off Fresh Water
| bay, and go Is miles f. S. E., and then
| beat home.
| Later, to the great disappointment of all
| present, the Nigil&nt was seen to haul
down her racing flag and to take in her
topsails, and it looked rs if the race, for
| some reason or other, had been declared
| off, owing to the Vigilant's not being able
l to start.
The yachts and the excursion fleet then
| headed back towards the shore. The coast
| guard station of this district communi-
| Gated with steamer returning with the
| 0cct of excursion boats, and reply was
received saying that something was wrong
with the Nigilant's keel, and this led to
the race being declared off.
| Some persons who came ashore here
| from an excursion steamer said that the
race was postponed on account of the fact
that the Vigilant lost her centerboard and
therefore could not race.
| Another report of the failure of the
Vigilant to start says that the American
yacht signallcd that she was disabled, and
upon being asked in what manner, she re-
piled that her ccntcrboard was either gone
or badly damaged.
1t transpircs that the queen was not on
board the royal yacht Osborne but q
large party, including the Prince of Wales
and Duke of York, was on board.
The Prince of Wales had not announced
his intention Of sailing on the Britannia
Saturday. This fact did not become known
4 until the yachts returned, it being gcner-
ally asserted that the prince was on board
his cutter.
When the Vigilnnt arrived at Cowcs
Mr. Gould reported and Colonel Pagct.
the Prince of Wales representative, on
board the Vigilant agreed with him that
| the Vigilant struck rock off the Needles
and this carried her centerboard entirely
away
1t would seem from this that the Vigi-
LIANT will be unable to race for some time
to come, unless the centerboard is recov-
cred and placed In shorter time than is
now believed possible.