Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-23
B0VDlrCH, WEBSTER & co.
TIE WGILANT WINS.
Second Victory in Ten Races with Prince Of
Ha'es' Britannia.

ROYAL ST. GEORGES YACHT CLUB,
American sloop Vigilant and the British
cutter Britannia started Saturday morn
ing on their tenth race, with the score
standing S to in favor of the Prince of
Wales yacht. The wind was light, and
the course was the same as on Friday,
from the East pier here to and around
Rosebeg buoy, thence out to sea and
around the Kish lightship; from there
back toward Bray Head and round the
Muglins, and from those rocks back to
the pier; three times around this course,
completing the total distance of 30 miles.
The prizes competed for was $500. given
by the Royal st. Georges Yacht club.
The attendance was not so large as Fri
day, but large crowds were present to
cheer the racers, and great fleet of
steam and sailing crafts, large and
small, and of all descriptions, was gath
cred in and about the harbor previous to
the start.
Both yachts left Kingstown at 9 O'Clock
in order to indulge in a few preliminary
spins with the view of testing sails and
feeling the wind. The breeze. however,
was not of the description to raise the
hopes of the supporters of the American
yacht. 1t was distinctly Britannia
weather, but some black looking clouds
in the northwest, from which the light
airs were coming, raised hopes Of better
racing weather before the contest was de-
cided. The starting gun was fired at 1856
a m, Greenwich time.
BY this hour the breeze had hardened
somewhat and things looked brighter for
the Vigilant. Both yachts came down
on the line on the starboard tack very
prettily. with jackyarders and jibtopsails
aloft. When they stayed to take the line
the Britannia was close on the mark,
with the Vigilant slightly behind her On
her weather quarter.
The Racers Crossed the Line
as follows: Britannia, 1oh. Som. los;
Vigilant, l0h. som. 20s.
The Vigilant made a strong effort to
work up on the Britannia's weather beam
where upon desperate piece of luffing
followed and was watched with great in
terest and much excitement ashore. Both
yachts ran far out of the course and were
pointing almost back to the shore. When
about mile up the bay, the Britannia's
helm was put down and she bore away
with the Vigilant's bowsprit over her
quarter. When they squared away for
the run to Rosebeg buoy, the Britannia
was a length ahead of her opponent.
The breeze by this time was again ten.
der and when spinnakers were set the
Vigilant was travelling close on the
Britannia's starboard quarter. looking as
if she was coming through the Britain
MAS lee. But drop in the wind brought
them almost to standstill
When the yachts sails began to fill
again, they were nearly on the original
course and the Vigilana crept slowly up
until she was ahead of her rival. Then
the American yacht forged ahead, grad
ually increasing her lead as they made
for Rosebeg buoy. which mark the Vigi-
liant left length and half ahead of the
Britannia. The times passing the first
mark, Rosebeg buoy, on the first round,
were: Vigilant. lib. Aim. 2ls; Britannia,
11h. Aim sos.
In time the Vigilant then had lead of
"a seconds on the cutter The Britannia,
however on the reach to Kish lightship,
in light wind and under jib topsails,
was drawing upon the Visilant's weather,
and the American yacht was obliged to
lutf in order to try and prevent her pass
ing. This maneuver. however, failed,
and two miles from Rosebeg the Britain
MIA was broad on the Vigilant's weather
And Drew Slowly Ahead.
The breeze had improved outside the
bay and both yachts were going along
gracefully. The Vigiiant, when about
two miles from Kish lightship, again
pulled up on the Britannia and uassino
through the Britannia's weather. soon
pushed her bowsprit in front. A fresh
southerly breeze paid them of slightly
as they were laying for the Kish iightship.
and the Vigilant was again improving
her lead.
The second mark, the Kish lightship, on
the first round, was passed by the two
yachts with the Vigilantin the lead and
in the following times: Vigilant, IL h.
37m. 56s; Britannia. 12h. 3sm. 84s The
Vigilant at this early stage Of the race,
not only held her lead in light weather,
but she had increased it hv feur secof,aa