The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-08
THE YIGILANT FIRST.
But the Britannia Wins on the
Time Allowance.
A MOST EXCITING CONTEST.
The American Yaehs Meets Her Match
Dobbins Beats Key Ell Santa Anita
for Realization Stakes.

HUNTERS QuAY, July The starters IN
the Yacht race today were the VigiIant.
Britannia and Marjorie The course was
from the Isle Of Butte across the Clyde
and around markboat OF Kilereggan,
thence home twice around; distance fifty
miles. The Vigilant. st 175 tons TO the
Britannia's $50 tons, allowed the Prince Of
Wales cutter three minutes and the Mar
jorie eighteen minutes. Holy Loche was
crowded with about 80 sailing yachts.
and twenty steam yachts we're moored so
that their owners and the guests might
get q good view of the exciting contest.
During the early morning q southeriy
breeze was blowing, and this was expected
to benefit the Britannia. The breeze in
creased as the time approached, and when
the start was made II was blowing freshly
down the channel. The smart and pow
erfcl looking Vigilant lay in Gourock bay
until 9:I5. when she left her moorings and
began cruising about the Firth until time
for the start. The steam yacht ATLANTA,
with Mrs George J. Gould and party On
board, followed the race. The atmosphere
of the CLYDE today was much clearer than
on Thursday last, and fine view of the
contest could be obtained. The Vigilant
had up backyard topsail, expecting the
wind would fall or st least not increase in
strength. But the Marjorie had made
preparations for q blow and ran up iib-
headed topsail.
The maneuvering for the start was a
pretty sight The Vigilant was luffing
along in front of the line, while the Mar
jorie and the Britannia cruised about in
the mouth of the Loche. When they
stayed to starboard in order to come down
on the line the Britannia was pushing
into the weather of the Marjorie and was
a bowsprit ahead as the gun was fired
The Britannia was over the line almost
Immediately after the gun was fired
closely followed by the Marjorie. The
Vigiiant made a bad start, being fully
three-quarters of a minute behind the
Britannia This was accounted for by the
fact that the American yacht had less way
on when she came about. The time of
crossing the line was: Britannia, 1870: IL;
Vigilant, 1921 20. Both the Vigilant and
the Marjorie held on to the starboard and
went TO the CIoche shore without making
a tack, the Britannia following away to
leeward. When the racers cleared the
Cloche lighthouse they met a more favor
able wind, and the Britannia was not only
pointing as high as the Vigilant, but she
was drawing ahead. When the yachts
ran into more open water the breeze was
bringing the sea into whitecaps, and both
the Britannia and Vigilant were heeling
over The Vigilant. to the surprise of
everybody ashore. appeared to be falling
behind. Experts said that she forereached
very fast. and that her centerboard gripped
her to windward in very effective man.
ner On staying to fetch the Skelmorlie
the Britannia slightly improved her lead.
The time was as follows: Britannia,
1l:40:15; vigilant, IL 1855.
The beat down was n marvellous exhibit
of seamanship on the part of the captains
of the American and English yachts. Both