New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-16
vTGILiNT AND Defender.

SUNDAYS race between the Nigllani and the
Defender was by no means conclusive. In the
strict sense Of the word, indeed, II was not
race at all. No formal start was made. no course
was measured or indicated. no finish line was
set no time was taken. no measurcmcnis OF the
Yachts for time allowance were made. The
whole affair was merely chance meeting. an
Informal brush On the road. Each doubtless
did the best il could In the circumstances; but
there Is no reason 10 suppose either did the very
best II could In IN. most favorable circumstances;
and certainly no means were afforded Of reckon
Ing exactly whatever superiority either showed
over the other, or Of comparing the performance
Of either with the work done or 10 he zone III the
races for the Americas Cup.
So far however. as the meeting Indicated any
thing. IT was that the Defender Is the swftcr
boat Of the two, and that her chances OF beating
the third Valkyrc are good. The Defender, on
the whole outsaird the Nigilant. That seems
indlsputable At one time. In running straight
to lceward. the Visilan; gained little. But
that was while the Defenders splnDakcr was
out Of trim. AS soon as II was set right The new
Yacht rushed ahead Again, on one tack 10
windward, the vigilant ouifootcd the Defender;
but she did not point 80 high. and 80, on the
whole tack the Defender did the better work.
Finally, the Defender showed herself able to go
about more quickly than her rival; a highly i'm
portant matter. considering the reported quick
ness Of the Nalkyre in turning. 1t may be ac-
ccptod az fact that, far as Sundays contest
Is concerned, the Defender has shown herself
able to beat the VigIlant in light weather. in
reaching. in footing. in pointing, and in going
about
What she can do In heavy weather is yet to be-
seen. 1t is quite possible that she prefers light
weather; and IT Is not altogether impossible that
heavy weather will prevail during the cup races.
Those races are set down for September Z, o. II,
IL and H. During the last ten years the aver.
age velocity Of the wind at Sandy Hook. from
September 10 II, has been about eighteen miles
an hour. That may not be heavy weather but
II certainly is not extraordinarily light weather.
There is. however, little danger that the De.
fender will be at disadvantage ~ compared
with the Valkyrc on that score, for the latter Is
confcsscdly light-wcaiher boat, and was in.
tended 10 be such
1t Is also to be borne in mind that the Defend
or does not, after all. need Ia be much faster
than the Nigllnnt. II any, To beat the third Val
kyrc. The Nigani was decidedly superior 10
the second Valkyrc. The third Valkyric may
be lriilc better than the sec0nd. She has raced
with The Britannia. rs did the second and has
sometimes beaten her and sometimes been beat
On, ~ was the case with her predecessor SO
far as the Clyde races indicate. the third Val
kyrc Is certainly not bit better than the Vigil
liant was in the cup races Of 1888. BY as much
as the Defender beats the Vlgllan'. therefore,
we may expect 10 see her beat the Valkyrlc That
l., supposing she does beat the Vigilaut I'm n
regular, set race like that Of next Saturday.