The morning call., 1894-08-05
PLENTY OF WIND AND WATER.

CowEs, Isle of Wight. Aug. 4.-George
Gould's yacht Vigilant has redeemed the
promise of her sai!tng-master that, given
deep water and a strong wind. she would
defeat the Prince of Wales crack boat,
the Britannia.
The race to-day was fifty miles, twice
over the Queens course The prize was
9l00. The race was the fourteenth be.
tween the boats, of which the Britannia
had Won ten. The start was in stiff
westerly breeze A large crowd watched
the first half of the race from shore, but
about the time that was completed a
drizzling rain set in. Some slight advan-
tage was with the Britannia in the send
off at 40, but the Vigilant quickly over
came it and got the lead, which she held
to the finish. only once coming near being
put in the second place.
There was great excitement as the two
yachts with ordinary tOpsails and medium
jios and foresails glided gracefully along.
pointing eastward until they passed the
flagboat. which, out of compliment to the
Americans, was flying the stars and stripes
opposite the Royal Yacht Squadron's cas-
tie, when they swung round virtually TO-
gether. in order to pass the line. The
yachts looked beautiful, powerful and
swift as they sped along, beam for beam,
with the Britannia on the Vgilant's port
side and holding the weather position.
Their sails were we'll filled, and nothing
prettier could be imagined han the sight
they presented as they went on the start
back toward the opposite shore, sailing
: l. - nd
affOrding all on board the latter a splendid
view of the two race rs before the struggle
was commenced. But the fact that the
two cracks were obliged to thread their
way through this feet of pleasure craft
prevented the Yigilant from getting out as
readily as her opponent
When the boats got in less crowded
water. however. the Vigilant opened out
and soon drew level. Then for half
mile, first one boats bowsprit and then
the others showed in front. With two
tacks they passed the Lepes Buoy land
mark boat as follows: Vigilant, 10 SO :05;
Britannia, 10:56:00.
AS they ran back for the Warner light
ship. the Vigilant was still gaining, pass
ing the home mark by about min. II sec.
ahead. At Ryde pier. going eastward. the
Vigilant had lead of min. Sec, show
ing gain Of nearly minutes. Running
eastward the Figilant gained rapidly, but
in beating back against the wind the
Britannia gained slightly as she passed
Ryde pier on the return from the WaIner
lightship only min. 10 sec. behind the
Vigilant.
A long reach brough the yachts back to
COwes for the completion Of the first
round. the time being as follows: Vigi-
lant, 12:37:15; Britannia, 2:41 :O5
The Vlgilant's lead here was 8 min. so
Sec, only twenty seconds more than her
time allowance to her rival. The wind
had hauled around slightly southwark
and was strong enough TO heel the two
yachts over most gracefully. every inch of
canvas being filled and their bottoms
showing up clearly. After rounding Lepe
buoy on the second round the yachts re-
turned in a free reach and they passed
Cowes with the Vigiiant min. sec.
ahead.
The American yacht on going out of
sight around the eastward point of Cowes
on the final round had further increased
her lead by two seconds. Passing Ryde
pier going to the eastward on the last
round the Vigilant was five minutes fifteen
seconds ahead Warner lightship was
hid in q fog when the yachts passed it.
Returning they came in sight of Cowes,
about mile from home, with the Vigilant
five minutes ffty-fve seconds in the lead.
The times al the finish were: Vigilant
2:37 40, Britannia 2:44 80. Consequently
the Vigilant won by six minutes fifty Sec
onds actual time and by four minutes
forty-eight seconds corrected time.
Taking the starting time as 1O:4O and
the finishing as 2:37 40 1t will be seen that
she went over the course, slightly less
than fifty miles. in three hours. fifty-seven
minutes and forty seconds. or, roughly
speaking, at the rate of twelve miles an
hour.
In addition to the Prince OF Wales, the
Duke of York and Commodore Morgan,
the latter as Mr.. Gould's representative.
were on board the Britannia. George
Gould and Howard Gould were on board
the Vlgilant with Oliver Isen and Lord
Lonsdale as their guests. while Secretary
Paget, who was also on board. represent ted
the Prince of Wales. On the Vigilant Mr..
Isen was given charge of the head sails,
and hie excited condition at some stages
of the race occasioned friction and once
led to little tiff with Pilot Draper, who
appears to have resented this alleged in
reference with his department. On board
the Britannia everything seemed to work
perfectly.
A representative of the Associated Press
boarded the Vigilant shortly after the race
was finished. 1t would be impossible to
describe in fitting terms the elation of
Captain Hank Half and the Yankee crew
over the days victory. 1t was a we'll
merited case of let the eagle scream, and
the noble bird did so vigorously and con-
tinuously. Captain Haff, discussing the
race, said: I'VE are especially proud of
the victory, as it was won over the Prince
OF Wales own course. He insisted it
should be cup course or no race, and we
won squarely."
George j. Gould felt very happy at the
result Of the race, saying: 81 feel to-day's
victory wipes out many of our defeats
We regard it as the principal race of the
season. The Vigilant was sailed capi-
tally to-day. and nobody could have wished
for better weather or better handling of a
yacht 1t was fair race today and no
fukes. The wind failed slightly toward
the end of the first round, but both boats
had the same experiences. Certainly the
Britannia was no worse off than our
selves"
George Gould had a marrow escape from
dro owning yesterday when he met the Vigil