Evening star., 1895-08-20
LEDBY FOUR MINUTES
The Defender Defeated Vigilant on
the First Round.
TRIAL RACE OFF new JERSEY COAST
Owing to Accident Second Round
Was Not Sailed.
DETAILS OF THE CONTEST

NEW YORK, August 2o.-The first of the
trial races of the yachts Defender and
Vigilant, to decide which shall contest
with Vaikyrie III for the Americas cup,
was sailed today. The course was ten
miles south southwest from Sandy Hook
hghtship, which meant beat TO and
around mark boat off Asbury Park.
The wind wss light from west south
west, not mere than eight knots an hour.
and the sky was somewhat overcast.
HIGHLANDS, lilo a.m.-Defender is
near the starting line, but Vigilant is
about two miles away. 1t is expected that
the gun will be fired in about thirty min
utes.
The yachts off. Vigilant cross I'd The
line at i1:i5 and Defender at 11:46
12:o6 p.m.-Defender appears to have
overhauled Vigilant and to be wirdward
of her and crawling ahead prettiIy
1:1O p.m.-Defender rounded the stake
BOAT at l09:2O, and soon squared away
urder sail on the run home. Vigilant was
about mile behind. and the wind still
steady from The southwest. Defender a
minute after rounding, broke out her spin
maker AMI balloon jib, ana went tearing
along for the finish line at steamboat
pace.
Vigilaat rounded the mark at 1:l4.37, Just
> minutes IL seconds behind Defender
She then squared away for the run home.
At 30 pm, or about forty minutes after
rounding the mark, it was estimated that
Defender had lead of twelve minutes on
Vigilant.
:52 pm.-The committee boat has Just
signaled that the course is to be sailed over
twice.
2:d5 p.m.-Defender has turned the mark,
and is standing off again on the starboard
tack, in beat to the outer mark for the
2:1O p.m.-Vigilant rounded the liehtship
at 2:OS::s0, only four minutes behind, and
had pulled up minute Is seconds in the
run home. After rounding Vfgilant stood
away after Defender on the starboard tack.
The Race Called on.
$40 p.m.-Defender has eased off and is
now running back toward Sandy Hook.
The race has been called off.
Vigilant, instead of following Defender
continued away toward the Jersey shore
toward the outer mark. But the stake boat
is on her way home and is passing the
Highlands. 1t would seem from this that
Defender, for some unknown reason, mas
given Up the race and the Nigilant IS keep
ing on in spite of It. -.
2:3S p.m.-lt is understood here that De-
tenders jib split before il was taken in.
Defender is still standing toward Sandy
Hook and is evidently out of the race.
NEW YORK. August 2O.-Th:s morning
there was every prospect of fine days
racing for the rival yachts. Defender and
Vigilant both eager to do battle in defense
of the Americas cup.
bay, under the lee of Sandy Hook. rising
and falling prettly to the ocean swell, their
tiny riding lights sparkling like gems from
their forestayS.
When two bells" tingled merrlly over
the blue waters of the bay, echoing far and
wide through the crisp morning, the anchor
watches were relieved and "all hands" and
the cooks were pped on deck to prepare
for the business of the day.
What little haze there was about the
Long Island and New Jersey shores was
soon dissipated under the influence Of the
breeze and the rays of the sim, and by
o'clock the morning was perfect in every
respect. The white caps which had speck-
ed the ocean yesterday, We're no longer
there, but the sleeping waters were fast
beng ruflfed into renewed life.
The race today, accor1ing to program.
was to be tel miles to windward or lee
ward and return. as the wind serves, the
committee reserv.ng the right to send the
yachts over the course a second time.
The second race to be decided on Thurs
day, will be over triangular course. eight
miles to leg, and the Americas cup COIN
mittee at the conclusion of this contest
will decide as to the recess.ty of a third
race on Saturday.
Talk of the Yachtsmen.
Prior to the race today the opinion Pre-
vailed that both Vigilant and Defender
would show up in much better form than
they have hitherto done, and the handlers
of the latter yacht were understood to have
the old cup defender a more severe beat
ing than any previously Administered, In
spite of the fact that Vigilant is under
stood to have been greatly improved.
But the experts who have studied the
question most closely say that Defender
needs to be tuned up to the highest pitch
in order to defeat valkyrie in a light
rival here, has been closely examined by
men competent to express an opinion on
the subject, and they Joined in saying that
axL4, 10 l.rx fack
boat in light airs, owing to her great beam.
although the Defender is looked upon, on
account of her finer model, as likely to
beat her in going to windward
In any case close contests between the
cup challenger and the cup defender are
anticipated. Hence, more interest was
taken in the trial race today than would
otherwise have been the case, in view Of
the repeated defeats inflicted upon Vigilant
by Defender.
Both Defender and Vigilant have been
measured; but for obvious reasons the
figures are kept secret for the present. 1t
is said, however, that there is very little
difference in the measurements of the old
and new cup defenders, fact which causes
some astonishment.
Making Ready.
The Defender at $50 m. had her Jfb I'd
in stays and was otherwise making ready
for the fray, while small feet of fishing
vessels clustered around the two rivals,
watching the crew setting sail preparing
to do SO.
Soon Vigilants big mainsail was started
up the mast, and by $50 it was well to the
breeze
BY 8 am. the smoky haze. which had
been lowering over the Long Island shore,
had almost entirely cleared away, and the
wind was holding good from the westward.
Vigilants club-topsail soon followed her
mainsail aloft and in three minutes was in
good shape.
Almost Immediately afterward the crew
of Defender tailed on to the halyards OF
that gallant yacht, but some time elapsed
before it was setting to the satisfaction Of
Capt. Half. Vigiiant tripped anchor at $40
a. m and glded away under mainsail, club
topsail and foresafl.
The breeze by this time had fallen Oh
somewhat, and Vigilant slowly headed out
side the Hook.
Defender, at 800. was taken in tow bv
the press boat and started for Scotland
lightsf1fp with her mainsafl hoisted and her
jib, in stops, on the stay.
The Course s. s. w.
The wind had pulled around Slightly to
the westward and had Increased in
strength. The weather was delightfully."-
clear and bracing.
At 11:30 am. the commodore boat sig