The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-21
A DISAPPOINTING RACE.
IN THE FIRST TEN-sIILE BEAT DE-
FENDER GAINED OVER SIX
MINUTES.

Wtthdraws From the Huce-Great
disappointment Caused by the Poor
Ending-VigiIant Called on After
She starts ON the Second Round.
New York. Aug. 20-The first Of the ap-
pointed trial races to decide whether the
Defender or the vigilant shall be selected
10 defend the American cup, which was
sailed here to-day, resulted in a dlsap-
pointment all around. The Defender af-
ter outsailing her rival decisively over
the first round and continuing to increase
her lead for several miles on the second,
suddenly withdrew from the race and
stood off for a run back to her anchorage.
This was due, apparently, to a disinclina-
tion to risk the sloop further in the strong
and steadily increasing breeze which had
blown up since the race started. Mr.. Is
elm and the others on the Defender would
not admit that mishap had occurred and
there were no indications of any.
This made the Britishers, who were
watching the contest with eagerness, on
~ the more jubilant as 1t looked very much
like backdown and they believe the Val
kyrie III. can stand nearly any kind Of
weather After the Defenders retreat,
the VigiIant kept sturdily on her course,
beating up into a forty-mile wind and
pounding through a rolling and tumbnng
sea. Even after She had split her new
Herreshon Jib she set another and In
few minutes continued sticking to her
work.
When she had completed about three
quarters Of the second windward beat she
was recalled by the judges, who assured
Mr.. Willard that the race was ended and
the Vigilant was the winner Then the
old campaigner put about and ran for her
anchorage. She did not return to the
starting point, but kept in shore on the
run home. The unprecedented result was
afforded Of an important race and 5000
cup being won in a contest In which neither
Of the contestants went over the course or
finished.
Yachtsmen are feeling rather gloomy to-
night over the race, as it would seem to
show weakness in the Defender in the
one important point in which heretofore
she has not been thoroughly tested. The
experts had been pressing the hope all
along that in the trial races the Defender
would have a chance to show what she
could do in stiff wind. II she is TO turn
out too tender for such work. IL Is not a
hopeful augury for her races in September
with broad beamed Valkyrie III. The
Nigilants 5 victory will necessarily affect
the Defenders claim to represent America
in the coming races.
Commodore Smith said before the race
that the winner OF the series might not be
the yacht selected to meet the Valkyrie
That. he said, would rest with the com
mittee in any event. 1t is not unlikely,
however, that more than two trial
races will not be held, although no an
nouncement has yet been made on that
point
AS originally scheduled, there were to
be two trial races, one to-day and one on
Thursday. To-day's contest beside be-
ing one of this series, was for the hand
some cup offered by John Jacob Astor
The course was ten miles to windward and
return. 1t was not announced before
hand whether the yachts should go over
the course once or twice, but it was ar
ranged that signals should be displayed
from the judges boat in case the double
round was decided upon after the race
had started. If 1t had ended with the
first round the Defender would have put
clean and decisive victory to her cred
1t. In the first ten-mile beat to wind
ward she gained six minutes and thirty
three seconds on the Vigilant. She lost
one minute and thirty-three seconds or
this advantage on the run back, but this
was due largely to slowness in setting her
actly five minutes in the twenty miles.
The start was made from Sandy Hook
lightship, and the course was ten miles
to- windward and return, twice over.
This meant a trip down the Jersey coast
and back.
The start was made at noon, without
the exciting rush for the lines, which has
on two occasions almost led to a col
lision. The Defender gave the Gould
boat plenty of room and allowed her to
cross nearly one minute in advance.
The Defender began to gain after the
first of the five minutes, and gradually
the lead of 81 seconds which Vigilant
had at the start, melted away. The new
Herreshom boat was clearly getting the
best Of it, and besides pointing closer to
the wind, was footing a little faster.
In half an hour the wind increased to
a 30-mile blow, and both yachts were
lee scuppers under most Of the time.
The pounding Of the heavy seas added to
the severe strain on the sails and spars
and rigging, and gave both boats a Sc
we're test but they stood 1t well in the
beat to the outer mark. At the outer
mark, after ten miles of windward work,
the Defender had wiped out the 81 sec
onds lead Vigilant had at the start and
was minutes and 36 seconds ahead, q
total gain Of minutes and 33 seconds.
The Defender had an advantage Of five
minutes elapsed time over twenty miles OF
the course. The Vigilant had reduced the
lead at the outer mark by minute 80
second; when the boats started on the
second round the wind had reached fully
a forty mile gait. Seven minutes and a
half after rounding the Vigilant lowered
her club topsail and under plain lower
sail continued her chase Of the Defender.
The wind dashed the sea into foam and
the Defender with her club topsail still
.aloft held on. At 2:22 when she was on
fhe port tack, leading the Vigilant nearly
a mile she luffed up in the wind for an
instant and then wore away toward Sandy
Hook There was no sign of a mishap and
everyone wondered what had caused the
syndicate boat TO give up the race and the
Astor cup and start for home.
The United Press tug followed her In
towards the hook and with difficulty Mr..
Iselin was induced to step to her side and
answer a query as to why the Defender
withdrew. His answer was: "Go TO the
committee boat and find out" On the
committee boat there was nothing but con-
lecture as TO the cause OF the Defenders
withdrawal.
The Inference drawn by a majority OF the
spectators was that the wind was too
strong for the canvas and rigging OF the
new Herrcshon boat. The Defender ran
t.rfIa tte TT.nn fa4narnI Har foraa4f ana