The Washington times., 1894-07-06
vTcILANr SUFFERED DEFEAT.

Owing to Sudden Failure OF the Wind the
Britannia Won.
HuNTER's Quay, FIRTH OF CLYDE, July o.
The American yacht vigilant was defeated
In the Mudhook regatta to-day by the
Prince Of Wales Britannia, the latter winning
by thirty-hve seconds, corrected time. The
Satanita and valkyrie were to have been con-
testants in the race. but neither finished. ow-
ing to an unfortunate collision while prepar-
ing for the start. These two yachts became
locked together, and in a few minutes the
valkyrie settled down and sank, while the
Satanita was so badly damaged that she was
obliged to retire. Some time passed before
the people ashore fully realized what had
happened.
The Satanita, it appears, was looking for
the start and was unable to get out of the
yaikyrie's way. rs the latter was coming on
the starboard tack. The Valkyrie's bowsprit
ran across the Satanita's foresail and the col
lision which Immediately followed carried
away the Satanita's bowsprit, leaving her
wreck covered with tangled rigging and col
lapsed sails. The force Of the collision cut
the yalkyrie down to the waters edge .and
she slowly settled and sank in three minutes.
Lord Dunraven, Mr.. Watson and the Off
GERS and crew OF the Valkyrie were picked up
by boats which put out from the shor and
from the many sailing and steam yachts in
the vicinity OF the scene of the accident
Lady Algine Lennox and Lord Gordon
Lennox were sitting at the stern OF the Valky-
rie at the time of the accident.
Lady Lennox was cared for first, and with
the utmost dispatch was taken in small
boat and pulled ashore in an almost faintfng
condition. Lord Dunraven is said to be
almost heartbroken over the loss OF his boat.
The Vigilant and Britannia continued on
their course without those On board being
aware OF the accident, the yachts starting
from an imaginary line drawn between the
Royal Clyde Yacht Club headquarters, at
Hunters Quay. and mark boat No. l. The
first leg was around a mark boat OIL Ssei-
morlIe; from tn, re to and around another
mark boat off Ascog; thence to and around n
mark boat of Kilcreggan, and from there to
the starting point. twice around.
The vigilant soon took the lead, and at the
round was in the lead by two minutes.
One of the most remarkable changes which
ever occurred in a yacht rice happened
several miles from the finish. The wind was
still fairly fresh on the run up the Firth as
far as Cloch. where the vigiant had lead Of
over five minutes. On the home side Of
Cloch, however, the Vigilant droIpe out OF
the wind and the Britannia began TO draw up
on her, keeping further from the shore, with
the result that mile above Cloch the Vigilant
was passed and the Britannia was leading by
half n minute at Kilcreggfn
On the reach the Vigilant pluckily endeav-
ored to come past on the weather. but the
Britannia luffed up and prevented her, the
British boat winning by 35 seconds.
The Vigilant should undoubtedly have won
with minute or two to spare. and would
have done SO but for the sudden failing OF the
wind in which the Britannia was so well served.
1t was admitted on all sides that the vigi-
liant was the better boat, and that she had the
h. rdest lines in losing.