The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-07-31
ACCIDENT TO THE DEFENDER
HER STEERING GEAR TANNED so
THAT SIZE HAD TO PULL OUT.

The Montaui Also Got a Knock Out Blow
That Twisted Some of the Boats From
Her Davits-When the Defender Quit the
Race she Was Far in tho Lead of the Vigil
liant but the Accident Allowed Her Rival
| to Score One Against Her.
| New London. Conn, July 30.-Yachts-
men never had more glorious day for
cruise than the members of the New
York Yacht club enjoyed to-day. There
was wind aplenty, and had the yachts
been trife less fleet disaster might
have been written in the days record
for the wind became gale shortly af-
ter the squadron was safe In New Lon
don harbor.
AS it was the schooner Montauk got
Knockout blow, which twisted some
of her boats from the davits and the
Defender had her steering gear jammed
so that she was obliged to pull out of
the race and permit the Vigilant to
score one against her.
| When the Defender quit she was
| leading the Vigilant by four minutes
and half, according to an observer in
the lighthouse off the harbor here. AS
| the Defender started 33 seconds later
than the Vigilant the new boat had
| five minutes and three seconds to her
| credit, and the race practically finished,
To-day's run was from Eaton's Point,
off Huntington Bay, L. l., to New Lon
| don, sixty-four miles.
In order that the yachts might COM
plete the run before dark the start was
made at $50 a. m. To the surprise of
all veterans the yachts arrived here
about half an hour before noon, an I'M
! precedented record for cruise run.
The best time made by any of the
yachts was four hours thirty-six min
utes, thrty-four seconds, the time of
the schooner Constellation. This waa
| an average of 1879 knots an hour. The
Vigilant averaged 1877 knots. Up to the
| time of her accident the Defender aver
aged IA knots. This time was made on
the broad reach, which was very nearly
a run before the wind at times.
In other years it has been found nee
essary to devote two days to the run to
this port.
The winners in the different classes
to-day were:
First class, Constellation; second
class schooners, Emerald; third class
schooners, Ariel; fourth class schooners,
Amorita; fifth class schoouers Loyal.
First class sloops, vigilant; second
class sloops. Katrina, walkover; third
class sloops, Queen Nab; fifth class
sloops, Wasp, and sixth class sloops,
lGossoon.
Before the start Huntington Bay pre-
sented a beautiful spectacle, with the
fleet Of yachts at anchor two and three
abreast and forming long line. At
$50 a. m. the morning gun doomed and
lat 6 o'clock the Sylvia led the way out
Into the sound The Defender and Wig
lilant sailed out side by side The fresh
Ibreeze caused them to keel we'll over
before they fairly got under way. The
lschooners and sloops which were in the
lday's race moved from their anchor
lagos when the Sylvia did. The Sylvia
lanchored near the buoy off Eaton's
Light. The wind was from southwest
by south and the course little north
of east, consequently it was broad
lreach. At $50 the preparatory gun was
fired and at $40 the starting signal for
the sloops was made.
| Queen Nab led the way over the line,
followed by the Norota, Gossoon, Wasp,
Eclipse, Mineola, Hildegarde, Katrina,
Ventura and several minutes later the
lClara.
| At 6:45 the schooners were started. The
lfreshening breeze sent them across the
line at a great pace. Lasca led, fol-
llowed by Montauk, Ramona, Else Ma
rie, Marguerite and Constellation, close
together and Troquois, Amorita, Ariel,
Emeralda, Brunhilde and Shamrock
crossed minute later.
At $50 the gun again sounded and
the two big single stickers made for
the line. Vigilant crossed first, thirty
three seconds ahead of Denfender. The
latter had only a No. 2 topsail. Both
sloops had big club topsails. The De-
fender outfooted Vigilant from start
and passed her inside )f half an hour.
After passing Port Jefferson the wind
increased until it was blowing thirty
miles an hour, and considerable sea was
kicked up. Anxious eyes were directed
at the big club topsails on the yachts
taken in and gaff topsails substituted.
The balloon jibs were also replaced
by smaller head sails and the shippers
trimmed sail for more serious blow.
Long Island sound was white with
foam and those on board the racers
were soused with spray. The cutter
Clara got more of the heavy weather
than the others and sought shelter be-
fore reaching New London. Several
yachts had sails split and sheets car
ried away.
The press tug dropped propeller
blade. The naphtha launch White
Swan, chartered at New London as mes
sage boat for the fleet, after making
about one-tihird of the trip took refuge
in Port Jefferson harbor. All the fleet
except the Clara are at anchor in New
London harbor tonight. The Jubilee
and Volunteer arrived to-day.
Tomorrow at 10 a. m. the fleet will
start on run to Newport.