New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-04
THE DEFENDER AND THE CUP.

Before the race for the Goelet Cup there was
some doubt in the minds of numerous expert
enced yachtsmen about the superiority OF the
Defender to the Vigilant. After Fridays search
Ing though not absolutely satisfactory, test II Is
practically certain that the new sloop VIII he
called on 10 try conclusions with the third Val
kyrie The Defender was plainly beaten by an
Accidentally one Of the accidents. it must be
said, which throughout the trial races have sug
gested some unpleasant reflections and fore
bodings Every one Of the preliminary contests
has developed weakness in some one Of the
competitors which would have been fatal in the
final struggle. On Friday the breaking of the
Defenders gafr cost her the trophy of victory,
but she had Enthusiastically established her rank
She had net lead Of nearly eight minutes over
the Vigilant, with less than eight miles of her
journey still before her, and she would have won
If she had not been disabled She went over the
line at the start in excellent style and gained
steadily and handsomely on the first leg. though
she tackled more frequently than her rivals; and
this demonstration of Quickness in stays was
extremely gratifying, in the light of past internal
tional experiences. In turning the marks and
in fact at all points she showed the ease and
rapidity with which she can be handled. Re
sponsiveness has been in a measure lacking in
the Defenders predecessors. She possesses That
great quality in high degree
The Defender IS a better boat than the Vigil
liant But how much better? Nobody knows at
the present moment or can know at least until
they have been measured. But the margin Of
superiority Is not large. In truth, TO judge by
all the evidence thus far submitted. il is not large
enough to warrant complete confidence in her
ability to perform the task 10 which in all hui
man probability she will be assigned Enough Is
known to justify exhilarating anticipations Of a
glorious struggle for supremacy but beyond mat
point predictions are unsafe. There is not the
least reason 10 doubt that the English racer Is an
extraordinarily able boat, and nothing can well
be surer than that she will be sailed for every
second there Is in her. If there are any mistakes
aboard her they will be surprises. But it is not
at all improbable that "A surprise Of another kind
NAV be in store for the Defender There is some
reason to surmise that between what the new
Valkyrie has done and what she can do there Is
a rather wider interval than in the case OF the
Defender. We have heard it suggested that
Captain Half has something up his sleeve
but that is the most fragile sort Of basis for con
fdence There Is absolutely nothing in the trial
records to justify such suspicion. and on the
whole we should be sorry If there were. II Is
desirable TO know as soon and as accurately
may be how fit the Defender is for the job cut
out for her.
We have alluded to the mishaps which have
married every contest Of the racers TO this time.
We repeat that they are regretiabe and dis
queting There is 10 doubt that successive re-
fnemcnts Of construction during the last ten
years have produced results which are not mere
" attractive to the eye, but scientifically and
practically excellent. But in these repeated acci
dents there Is a suggestion that the refining proc
ess has been carried TOO far, or at the least in
cautiously applied as to certain details Of equip
ment 1t is evident that the most minute scru-
tiny and the most searching tests are still ndis
pensabe in the case OF the Defender. Except
for that broken gaff her performance on Friday
was admirable, and moderate degree OF salts
faction is entirely Justfiabe, though she lost the
race in consequence But in the race for the
Americas Cup broken gaffs and broken hearts
will 90 together.