The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-09
BRITANNIA WON.
The Britannia Favored by
Little Airs Today.
The Morning Wasted in a Big Drifting
Match Over the Clyde Course.
Bp the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
HUNTERS QUAY, (Firth of Clyde), July
9.-The third race in the Royal Clyde
Yacht Club regatta, in which the Amer
lean Yacht Vigilant has been pitted
against the Prince OF Wales cutter Bri-
tannia, was sailed today.
The weather was fine, but the breeze
was lighter than on the days OF previous
races, and the Clyde experts looked upon
this as favorable to the Vigilant.
The bay was thronged with yachts taxi
ing part in the smaller contests and
large fleet OF steam yachts, excursion
boats, etc, was assembled in the vicinity
70 Hunters Quay.
Thousands of Spectators.
Thousands OF spectators lined the shore
and hundreds of carriages on both sides
of the Firth followed the boats. The
course was the same as that Of the prev
ious races.
AS the yachts reached along the line in
south wind, both carried backyard top
sails and the Vigilant showed a new
main sail which slightly altered her trim.
vigilant Crosses First.
The gun was fired at 10:30 and the
Vigilant, which had put about just pre-
violsIy, crossed the line two seconds
ahead of the Britannia. AS the gun
sounded the Vigilant sent up her jib top
sail, but soon took it down again.
Shortly after the yachts got away the
breeze freshened with prospects, it was
believed, Of good steady blow.
Down channel, on the reach to star
board, the two yachts were about equal,
and hough sailing slow compared with
that OF Saturday, it was quite exciting.
Beth the Vigilant and the Britannia
stayed almost together TO port when close
to the Cioch shore, where the Britannia
had her bow over the Vigiiant's weather
qua; ter, but the American yacht soon
dreg out again. Both yachts then
tried series Of short tacks. In
the cross tacking, the Vigilant, contrary
to general expectation, was quite as smart
as he Britannia, but she was not greatly
gaining although she looked to be well
ahead.
Breeze Stronger.
From under wemyss Castle the yachts
stood long distance out on the port
tack, the Britannia staying first when
about in mid channel and the Vigilant
| ge4fag further eat.
The breeze was stronger dow n there and
both were holding finely to the wind, the
Britannia, IL anything, having the better
weather eye grip. The Britannia shortly
afterwards ran up her smallest jib topsail,
and the Vigilant followed suit few min
utes later.
On the next tack to port, the Vigilant
scooted on the Britannia's weather bow.
There were only few seconds between
them and both were head to wind for a
minute but paid away again and the
Britannia was seen to race fast through
the Vigllant's lee, and breaking clear from
her, they stood out for the westward wit h
the view to fetch the Skelmorlie mark.
Wind Died Away.
At Innellan before noon the wind had
almost died away and the two yachts
were nearly motionless.
Nearing Skelmorlie the first mark, the
two yachts had been for sometime travel
ing in close company. The Vlgilant
always had the advantage, but as she
lost the breeze first, the Britannia
hauled her in, getting on her weather
quarter. But the Vigilant, in a light air,
soon pulled out clear from the Britrnnia's
lee, until she was some ten lengths ahead
when approaching the Skelmorlie mark
Britannia's Big Lead.
At Cloch Point the Britannia was lead
ing the Vigilant by three minutes and
five seconds.
OH Gourock the VigiIant carried a faint
air and reached clean past the Britannia's
weather. q good length ahead.
The Vigilant continued TO increase her
lead and the Skelmoralie mark was passed
on the first round in the following time:
Vigilant, 12 III, IA M, Is >.
Britannia, IL II, is M. 21 S.
In Drifting Match.
A slight breeze springing up, both
yachts increased their speed, but un-
happily the American yacht dropped into
a calm when about mile from the
Ascog mark boat and the Britannia
amazed the spectators ashore and afloat
by romping past the Vigilant wide on her
weather and established good lead be-
fore she, in turn, entered n calm.
The Vigilant was fairly hung up in the
doldrums and scarcely moved for fifteen
minutes. The Britannia, in the mean
while, caught the first tender puff and
with bigger jib topsail, passed the mark
boat at Ascog ahead.
The Vigilant then caught a small streak
OF wind, but she was nearly becalmed
again before she made the mark.
Time at Ascog.
The time at the Ascog boat, on the first
round as follows:
Britannia hour, 13 minutes, 81 seconds.
Vigiant, hour, IL minutes, III seconds.
Owing to the lucky wind, the race is
losing much OF its interest. The Viglant
bad been followed by the worst luck after
sailing we'll in light airs.
Both yachts left Toward Point carrying
spinnckers. They were sailing so osowly
that it was thought possible that the first
round would not be finished by 4p. m.
In that case the race will be decided by the
time taken at the end of the first round.
The Britannia was leading by two
minutes when nearing the Kilcreggan
mark boat, and 10 was considered that she
was almost certain TO win the race.
The Britannia wins.
The Kilcrcggan marx was passed in the
following time:
Britannia, hours, % minutes. IS Sec
onds.
vigilant, hours, A. minutes, 10 seconds.
The yachts after passing Kilcreggan
begau n wearisome drift home and tha