Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-28
The BRITANNIA SPEED. -
TAe Pals-, Mali Gssetas ThBaks Tho
- -VfrSlant 4. Another skavah~e. .

TAe .PaA.> MALI Gssetfs Thinks the,
= -vfstiest - Another sksvsh~e.
The PaIi Mali Gazette, Mr.. William Wal
ttorf kstor' s: payer In reviewing the EiEi-
hnt races on the Clyde ON July 10 says.
Ian aTCnG ft was hored mat vigilans
would not pfbre 1nvihcfbfe IN this side OF
the atlantic, but ones feadest expects tons
did not lead one to an ticipate that the proud
winner OF the Americas cup would be de-
feated In every one of her first six races
by, Vslkyrie's sister ship Britannia, 50 far,
Of course, nothing much has been proved
The racing has been conducted in the con-
III ed waters OF the Clyde. over courses far
ls,oTe tortuoas than those which fffid favcr
HI 'AResicz.S 1t Will be remembered that Of
the three courses saffed I'm the Fafkyrie-
Vigtlant' matches two were nominally. di-
rectfy to ieeward 10 mark boat and back
and the other was triangular: whereas the
'eytaa course in the clyde rs twice round: q
quadftlareraE An English boat is generally
supposed TO have an advantage in getting
round all these marks. owing to the greater
e&acfency and better discipline OF her Crew.
especially in spinnaker work, but Vfeilant
has been SO wei handled in our waters that
her disadvantage I'm this respect when GEM
pnred to britannia is not sufficient to &C.
count for the latter's series OF victories.
AZ Least Not Inferfor.
But. though II has not yet been decisiveiy
It has certainly been shown that she is in
| no way Vigilants inferior and this alone !.
Of immense Importance when we recollec,
the criticism passed upon Nslkyrie after her
defeats In New York bay. Beyond all ques-
ton she was not then sailing her proper
form. In England when she came out she
was fully Brftannia's equal and, therefore
Nfgflants. 1t Will be q lesson to Lord Dun
raven or whoever next challenges for the
famous cup not TO make expe .iments with
the trim OF his boat after he has proved her
excellence in British waters. AT the same
time 1t must be remembered that the consfi.
tons OF sailing on the other side are differ
ent to our own. The big Atlantic swell has
to be considered and also the fact that the
dryness or the wind diminishes its apps rent
velocity and enables more canvas to be car
ried with the sane ballast. Nigilants smart
dodge of carrying some tons of live ballast
under the weather sail viii proba bly, be pro-
hibited in the next encounter else IL Will
be resorted to by both the competitors Al
all events. our present chances of regainins
the historic trophy seem now much better
than they have ever been before. If the
Prince of Wales were TO challenge with
Britannia to race next summer an lmmenN,
amount of enthusiasm would be aroused We
imagine that MIR. y. q. herreshoif would
have all his work cut out to outbuild her,
and We shall watch with additional lerest
the debut of the cutter which he has prom
ised TO design for another owner with the
avowed intention of outbuildng Nisilant.
ViEiInut aud Navahoe.
80 far as one can Judge at present Nisj-
liant Is but very little faster than Navahoe
the despised Herreshoff cruiser-cum racer
who also had 10 lower her flag time after
| time to Britannia. Her only chance against
the Watson boat was a broad reach with
plenty of wind as in the match last Sep
TENDER for the Brenton Reef cup, from the
Needles, round Cherbourg breakwater and
back. 1t will be remembered that this was
the only occasion on which Navahoe beat
the royal yacht, and the finish was so close
that at first Britannia was adiudged the
winner. a strong easterly wind blew during
the whole race, the only work to w;ndward
was inside the breakwater, when Britannia
gained two and a half minutes in two miles
On such an exceptional day Nigilant would
May cup over the same course. Her great
beam and her centerboard would serve her
well under such conditions. But on all other
points Of sailing Britannia seems her SUI
peror. She is quicker in STAYS she points
higher to windNard, and-whch is really re-
markable when one considers tigiIant's
enormous sail atea-she can beat her when
running free and that although Carter does
not appear to have Yet picked up the
trick Of the two spinnakers set at once. IL
Vfgilant is we'll handled Britannia has been
sailed to perfection, no matter whether Mr.
w. q. Jameson or Carter has had hold of
her tiller. Except In the earlier matches
when Britannia and Nalkyrie fought out
duel after duel no such close and fasci-
mating yacht racing has ever been seen And
of this we may hope to have a continuance
until the first week Of September"