The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-07-21

YIGILANT VICTOR.
The Yankee Boat 0yerhauls
Her British Opponent
in Fine Style.
BATTLED IN SHORT BOARDS
Close Hauled the Yachts Run Neck
and Neck Until the
Finish.
BATTLED IN SHORT BOARDS
BIZ Cable to the United Press.

was depressing influence for Yankee
yachtsmen in the weather they noted as they
emerged from companionways this morn
ing and scanned the sky. They have been
nearly convinced by the successes of the
Britannia in light winds that she is better
yacht when white caps are invisible. and
they were prepared for hopeless stern chase
of the slippery cutter. The wind was light
from northwest, and from the overcast sky
there came occasional bursts of rain. The
course was the same as in yesterdays fiuky
contest, nearly kite=shaped, with twelve
turns From mark boat at the mouth of
the harbor, opposite the breakwater, the
first leg extends to the northeast of Ro5ebeg,
about three and Il half miles; the second leg
runs seaward five miles, about east south
east, to the Kish lightship, thence southwest
| to Muglns; the final leg is from the Mug
Inns home, about two and half miles. The
prize for which the yachts contended is
valued at $500 The northwest wind made
the first leg of the course a close-hauled
| reach of three and a half nautical miles, with
the wind over the port bow.
THE START.
The yachts came for the line with clubtop-
sails on the yachts were timed just as they
turned the home mark. Before doing so
they had little leg of several hundred yards
to make. running northwest, into the very
eyes OF the wind They lutfed up at the
stake boat and turned it uhus:-Britannia,
1881 :02; Vigilant, 1881 l9.
Both headed westward with the wind over
the starboard bow They stood on this
course for about fifteen minutes, each striv-
ing for the weather position. Bythus stand
ing into the bay they were enabled to make
| a somewhat broader reach OF it TO Rosebeg.
The manoeuvre brought the wind more on
the port beam Broad reaching in light
weather, the Britannia's skipper thought,
was more favorable 10 his yacht than work
with sheets almost fattened. The Vigilant
surprised the valent by slipping ahead, and
rounding Rosebeg one minute and four
seconds before the Britannia Time:-
Vigilant, 1I:15:39; Britannia 11:l634.
The wind was rising bit, and blowing
over the starboard quartsr in the five mile
run for the kish lightship There was
good breeze as they turned the lightship
The Vigilant led by one minute and forty
seconds, having put thirty-six seconds to her
credit in the run from Rosebeg and having
gained since the start one minute and fifty
seven seconds. Time:-Vigilant, 12:11:10;
Britannia, 12:1250.
THE BRITANNIA GAINS.
Just after they rounded the llghtship the
wind shifted to southwest, making dead
beat across the five and a half mile stretch
to the Muglins. The battle was now made
in short boards, and the quickness OF the
Britannia in says enabled her to reduce the
Vigilant's lead to one minute and twenty
eight seconds when they passed the Muglins
Thus the Britannia had picked up twelve
seconds. Time at the Muglins: :-Vigilant,
12:46:15; Britannia, 12:47:43.
The wind seemed to have more southerly
tendency after the yachts cleared the Mug
Inns, as they set the spinnakers to- port, and
large jibs to catch all the wind that might
spill from or elude the immense side sails.
Tho wi nd Sloiffad 80 in and SDiuna ktArS yyara
taken in. They were again set and once
more hauled in when the wind came out of
the east, puffy and uncertain. Both yachts
gybed main booms to starboard, the wind
now being on that qaurter. They completed
the first round with the Vigilant leading by
four minutes. She was having some of the
luck which had before been the Britannia's
own in all races Time at the home mark
Vigilant, 1:15:15; Britannia, 1.l9:35.
The Britannia being astern, felt the pro-
pelling influence of the new Wind first, and
slightly closed the wide gap between herself
and her rival. When the Vigilant got the
breeze she drew up. 1t was reach to the
Kosebeg, this time with the wind on the star
board bow. The Vigilant lost one minute
and fifteen seconds, having now a lead of
three minutes and five seconds. Time at
ebeg:-Vigilant, 1:30;30 Britannia,
$3.50.
STILL GAINING.
The wind had shifted to south when the
racers turned the Rosebeg buoy, and had
promise of steadness in it. The large jib
topsails used on the reach to Rosebeg were
hauled down and smaller ones substituted.
The Britannia picked up fifteen seconds, and
was now two minutes and fifty seconds
astern at the lightship. Time: Vigilant,
2:34:30: Britannia, 2:37:20
The Britannia got the better of iFtin the
free reach to the Muglins, simply because
the yachts ran into the doldrums, the breeze
having died away leaving masts perpendicu-
lar and sails Tapping. The Vigilant got the
breeze-a feeble air-first, but She had
drifted on the strong ebb tide SO far to the
south that the Britannia. which was nearer
the Muglins, caught up and rounded bare
nose pole ahead They were timed stimuli
taneously at the Muglins.
OvERHAULING THE CUTTER.
The wind was conlbing up the white caps
now, and the Vigilant got a true Yankee
gait on her. In the broad reach, with jib-
topsails bellying, the Vigilant oyerhauled
the cutter. and rounded the home mark,
finishing the second round, one minute and
seventeen seconds ahead. 1t was a
spinnaker breeze to Rosebeg. Booms were
dropped to port and the big sails sent the
racers north-northeast with renewed speed
that made Yankee hearts bound. The Vigi-
liant gained twenty-one more seconds in this
three and half mile run. and was one
minute and thirtyeight seconds ahead at the
Rosebeg buoy Time:-Vigilant 4:07 40;
Britannia, 4.09:1S.
The Vigilant won.