The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-21
Sails Were Blown From the
New Yacht and She
Weakened.
vIGuANT DECLARED VICTOR.
While the Contest Lasted Some
Clever Exhibitions of Seaman
ship We're Displayed.

VI tne appointed Lrlal races TO QeCiue
whether the Defender or the Vigilant shall
be selected to defend the America cup,
which was sailed here to-day resulted in
disappointment all around. The De-
fender after outsailing her rival decisively
over the first round and continuing to in
crease her lead for several miles on the
second, suddenly withdrew from the race
and stood off for run back to her anchor
age. This was due apparently to disin-
clination to risk the sloop further in the
strong and steadily increasing breeze
which had blown up since the race started.
After the Defenders retreat the Vigilant
kept sturdily on her course. When she
had completed about three-quarters of the
second windward beat she was recalled by
the Judge. who assured Mr.. Willard that
the race was ended and the Vigilart was
the winner.
The start was made from the Sandy
Hook iightship, and the race was beat to
windward and return. This meant a trip
down Jersey coast and back, as the wind
was south-sUuthwest.
The start was made without the exciting
rush for the line which has on two occa-
sions almost led to collision. One min
ute before the signal the Vigilant headed
for the line on the starboard tack. The
Defender slowly followed. The Vigilant
crossed at II AS: 56. Sheimmediately luffed
up to get more windward position, but
continued on the starboaro tack. The De-
fender shot over the line at II 1868. She
was also on the starboard tack and was
under the same sails as the Vigilant. ex-
cept that she did not use jib topsail.
The wind, which was good tifteen-knot
breeze at the start. was freshening and
the Vigilant, with her jib topsail where
the Defender had none, and with larger
club topsail than the new boat carried,
was heeling well over, but footing at a
tremendous pace. The Defender, with less
canvas, stood up better and pointed higher.
The rafting breeze bellied out the sails
and made them draw for all they were
worth.
For full half hour the two sloops con-
tinued on the starboard tack. The De-
fender began to gain after the first five
seconds, and gradually the lead of fifty
seven seconds, which the Vigilant had at
the start, melted away.
at 1877 the Vigilant went about. There
was moment of doubt among the speeta-
tors as to whether the Vigilant would cross
the Defenders bow or go astern of her.
Captain Half did not like the possibility of
the former alternative and put the De-
fender about at 1918 80, SO that both boats
were standing in shore on the port tack,
with the Defender having slight advan-
tage. The wind was working up quite sea,
and both yachts dashed clouds of spray
over their decks as they tore through the
water.
The canvas-jacketed crews of the racers
lay about the weather rail like so many
sandbags and the polished decks were
soused with spray. After the long board
out to sea both yachts stood on the port
tack we'll inshore, the Defender constantly
drawing away from her rival until she was
good mile in the lead. The time at the
outer mark was: Defender, 1:09:18; Vigil
liant, 1 IA :4.'
The Defender rounded the mark without
jibing and started on the run to the light
ship. The Vigilant jibed around the
mark, risky thing to do in the wind that
was blowing. At lie, almost seven min
utes after turning, the Defender broke out
her spinnaker. Six minutes later she
broke out her balloon jib topsail, rather
tardy work for cup-defender. The Vigi-
liant had her spinnaker drawing at 1:18
and her balloon was out at 1:23. The
quick work on the Vigilant enabled her to
cut down the lead of the new boat little,
and her balloon seemed to draw better
than the Defenders.
At Loo the Defender took in her spin
maker preparatory to rounding the light
ship. The time at the end of the first
round was: Defender, 2:04:29; Vigilant,
2:08 :32.
The wind had reached fully q forty-mile
gale as the boats started out on the
second round. Seven and half minutes
after rounding the Vigilant lowered her
club topsail and under plain lower sail
continued her chase of the Defender. AT
2:22, when she was on the port tack lead
ing the VigiIant nearly mile, she luffed
ND in the wind for an instant and then
wore away toward Sandy Hook. There
was no sign of mishap, and every one
wondered what had caused her to give up
the race and the Astor cup and start for
home.
The Defender ran inside the Hook, low
cred her topsail and scudded up the har-
Dor to Bay Ridge. After the Defenders
sudden withdrawal the Vigilant continued
on her course The wind was now blow
ing fully forty miles an hour, and at 1927,
five minutes after the departure of the De-
fender, the Vigilant's Herreshoff jib gave
way before the strain.
At 8 IA the Vigilant was put about and
started for home. She was off Sandy Hook
at 1852 and turning in she went to her
anchorage within the Horseshoe.
Late in the evening several members of
the America cup committee met at the
clubhouse on Fifth avenue and held
short conference. At its conclusion the
following announcement was made:
"The America cup committee an
nounces that the trial races will not be re-
sumed until next week.
ga. CAss CANFIELD. Secretary"
Ex-Commodore S. Nicholas Kane of the
committee was seen by United Press
reporter after the committee meeting.
He said that the judges had officially mott
fed Mr.. Iselin that the sudden withdrawal
of the Defender to-day was necessitated
by a weakening Of her rigging, which
made it unsafe for the boat to sail around