New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-11
THE DEFENDER CAN DO BETTER

But THE vIGILANT IS NOT To BE LAUGHED
AT-DIFFERING VIEWS YACHTsMEN HAVE
OF THE TWO BOATS
prominent member of the NewYork Yacht Club
sad 10 a Tribune reporter yesterday The De-
fender Is a greater marvel of shp-buildng than any
one yet fully appreciates. Everybody knows that
she hasn't We, been sailed up 10 her real form, be-
cause she is yet entirely tuned up. No. should
hardly be willing to say that Mr.. Iselin has pur-
posev held her back in any of her races. although
Il would not surprise me at all to learn that such
Is the case. I tell you. Mr.. Isen Is not man
who believes in showing his opponent his hand In a
game Of cards AS to the Defender beating the
1a!kyrie ILL., there is possible question In my
mind abou; IT, am positive that the Defender Is
The fastest yacht that was ever constructed. AS !
count it, judging her by the race in which she had
the accident 10 her gaff. she Is immeasuraby su-
,,erior 10 the Nigilant
Another equally prominent member Of the New
York Yacht Club who had just returned from the
cruise said that he would not be surprised II the
Defender went to Bristol before being seen In New
York waters again. He says that one reason for
the Defenders being again sent TO the HerreshoH
works is that she needs lignum vitae put IN TO
prevent the steel bands from cutting into ana IN
turlng her mainmast Some other changes and I'M
provements in her top works will also be made whiie
tie yacht is at Bristol. and she Will come down
here possibly with the steel spars. about when
there has been so much talk.
one Of the most interesting characters on board
the Vigilant is Willard Nye. of New Bedford Mr..
Nye Is a typical tar one sees him seated on
the deck Of the yacht He is clean shaver. a little
bi, bald, and clear. reasoning Yankee sailor from
top 10 toe In talk with reporter OF The
Tribune the other day Mr.. Nye said that great
many people have become too easily enthusiastic
o. the subject Of the Defender What want 10
say" began Mr. Nye, rs this: The Nigilant may
I Il be so fast boat the Defender. / dom
esy that she is. But the public is too much IN
,lined TO say when 1t reads about how the De-
fender would have won but for an accident to her
steering gear the breaking Of her gan, that the
Defender is far better boat than the Nigilant'
WHILE to tell the absolute truth. so far there is
nothing TO found such a supposition on.
In the first place, the boats have not been
measured yet 1t is conceded that the defender
must give the Vigilant something-just no" much
nobody knows yet. But that Is not the point.
What people who are much inclined to under
II is just bad for boat TO be beaten Dy an
sails or the breaking Of her gaff i is to be out
sailed. 1t is just bad 10 commit an error OF
IN PSt' Mnd P must Fl face is to
a bad.y modelled boat. 1t seems to me as If the
champion light up above. had gone little too far
wh their hollow gas and fd- n ,S valiant sah that
aint weigh more than 80 much paper al aronS
I'm enough S " h0a @ Sona san a yo"
yive me spars and sails light enough ana az the
strong enough ana i cOuu tiN
V:glant in circles around the Defender. This mis-
take Of not having strong enough sa h T is, pacs
has been made before 1t was made IN the Ia rae
between the Valkyrie IL and the Nigilani. you re-
member the Volkyrie ii put out too light a SPIN
maker and II carried away. II is all very wen 10
on, m light sails but you must be sure tney are
strong enough. The Vaikyrie III was beating, me
Vigant with her light spinnaker but IL wou th,
ast. while the Vigarlts was strong enough 10 hod;
srd she won. What / should really like 70 see ana
this last trip on the Nigant Is my n1th ume 10
ssjl on the winner Of the Goele Cup. would De a
- "a between the Nigilant and the Defehdsr IN d
bonsed toDmast breeze think that would sho"
H,st what the Defender really is 49,. ,,
Wasn't there wind enough for Hou on tnat run wi
across from Huntington Bay? ard me repo u,nd
Yes" was the reply. There Vas enough WIZ" mo
Defender" The reporter could only GASP .so M
u mean H." went Mr.. Nye When tne i ie
tenders steering gear gave out we were oiIS =" a
n nutes and fortyt three seconds benlnd het Oh, d
six,y-rne run The general cacm.auon h bs Three rec
n5SIes IN thirty mics If she must give the vis
isnt three minutes in thirty miles IL Is cean hais
Sc ms, allow her at least four and one-haii
n lnutes in a run OF sixty miles. That makes inc
Vglant n winner on that run from Huhuhe'o"'
"Bu, wouldn't the accident to the Defender r. ,
s'eering apparatus make any oiHerenessoa horr.
You think that that might have RETARDED nri g.
moi a narticle That accident 70 the steeliins
gear ala nothing whatever 10 retaad tne 49, Is;
was on a boat once the old Mayhower. WHeI, Jus.
such an accident as the freezing on tne DeIeuuSi
steering gear occurred II the Edison osci IA
ZIG gear and right good gear II was 100 9,a me
crank got heated. Just as the DeishneI onu,dn',
o'her day and after while the who're nrass an
shift Il over But IL didn't retaro her piosie'' '
INIT /. h.