Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-21
WGILANT WINS.
Takes First Race and $1,000
Cup From Defender.
Latter Withdraws After First Round
on Account of Heavy Weather.
Yachtsmen No! Pleased tor VaIkyrie Can
Stand the Hardest Blow.

New York, Aug. 20.-The first of the
appointed trial races to decide whether the
Defender or the Nigilant shall be selected
to defend the Americas cup, which was
sailed here, today, les ulted in disappoint-
ment all around.
The Defender, after outsailing her
rival decisively over the first round and
continuing to increase her lead for several
miles On the second suddenly withdrew
from the race and stood off for a + IN back
to her anchorage.
This was due apparently, to disin-
clination to risk the sloop further in the
strong and steadily increasing breeze
This made the Britishers who were watch
ing the contest jubilant, as they believe
the Valkyrie III can stand nearly any
kind of weather.
After the Defender retreat, the Vigi-
liant kept on her course, beating up into a
40-mile wind and pounding through a
rolling and tumbling sea. Even after she
had split her new Herreshoff lib. she set
anchor in few minutes and continued
sticking to her work.
When she had captured about three.
quarters of the second windward beat, she
was recalled by the judges, who assured
Mr.. Willard that the race was ended and
the Nigilant was the winner. Then the
old champion ran for her anchorage. The
unprecedented result was of an important
race and $4,000 cup being won In a con-
test in which neither of the contestants
went over the course or finished.
Yachtsmen are feeling rather glum, to
night, over the result of the race, as it
would seem to show weakness in the
Defender in the one important point in
which heretofore she had not been
thoroughly tested.
The Vigilant's victory will not ncces
sarily affect the Defenders claim to repre-
sent America in the coming races. Com
modore Smith said before the race that
the winner of the series might not be the
yacht selected to meet the Valkyric. That
he said, would rest with the committee
in any event
1t is not unlikely, however, that more
than two trial races will now be held.
AS originally scheduled, there were to be
two trial races, one today and another on
Thursday.
Today's contest was also for the hand
some cup offered by John Jacob Astcr
The course was 10 miles to windward and
return 1t was arranged that signals
should be displayed from the judges boat
in case a double round was decided upon
after the race had started If it had ended
with the first round, the Defender would
have put a decisive victory to her credit
In the first 10-mile beat to windward
she gained minutes and 33 seconds on
the Vigilant. She lost minute and 80
seconds Of this advantage on the run back
owing largely to slowncss in getting out
her spinnaker That left her with gain
of five minutes in the 90 miles.
Elk Commodore Kane of the committee,
said that the judges were officially notified
by Mr.. Isclin that the sudden withdrawal
OF the Defcnderfrom the race was neccs
STATED by the weakening of her rigging,
which made it unsafe for the boat To sail
around the course the second time.
How badly the Dcfcndcrs rigging is
weakened could not be asccrtained but it
was stated that the damage is such that it
will require several days to put the De
feUder again in racing form.
1t is possible that the proposed races
may be next Tuesday and Thursday, but
the committee had 10 positive informa-
ton on this point.
The Americas cup committee an
nounced officially, today, that the first
race for the America S cup would take
place on Sept Z.