The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-23

IL ldnL 10 Ul
FIRST MARK.
Defender. 12 57 :01
VlElans. IL :59 0S
Defenders gain on first leg. .................. 36
SECOND MARK.
DefenQer.
F1sllAnt. :5I 5O
Defenders gain on second leg. 32
FINISH
Defenucr 40 UU
Vigllant. :5f AS
Defenders gain on last leg. ................12 :09
ELAPSED TIME.
Oeiehoer..
Vtgilant .42S47
difference of time in favor of Defender. ....9:l7
The race was over triangular course
with ten miles to a leg. The start and
finish was at the Scotland lightship. The
first side of the triangle was broad reach
half way with the wind light from west
southwest, and slight change in the wind
made it a run free with spinnakers the rest
OF the way. The second side of the tri-
angle was started as close reach. but
change in the wind made it beat to wind
ward. This change happened to come at
time when it gave the Defender the most
advantage. The last side of the triangle
was a reach with wind abeam. The De-
fender made gains, and the net result of
the race was handsome victory for the
new boat.
The Vigilant sailed beautiful race, but
ouly for a few moments did she appear to
have any kind of chance with the keel
boat. 1t was when the wind, which was
light at the start, died down to faint
zephyr that the centerboarder crept up on
her rival, remained by her side few
moments and then, inch by inch, moved
ahead. There were yachtsmen on the club
steamer, who said that the great Ameri-
can institution, the centerboard, was about
to be INDICATED. and the hated keel type
placed in the rear. But the Vigilant did
not show more than half her length before
her rivals bow.
The wind freshened triae and the peer
less new boat made wonderful response.
Like thing of life she glided forward,
parting the waters Clearly and leaving
scarcely speck of foam in her wake. She
walked past the Vigilant and continued to
leave her during the rest of the run-the
close reach, the beating to windward and
the reach home. In all points of sailing,
the new boat demonstrated her ability to
defeat the Vigilant in the light air which
prevailed off Sandy Hook.
In the morning, . couple OF hours before
the race, the sky was overcast on every
hand, and most of those who went down
the bay on clubboats and excursion steam
ers provided themselves with umbrellas.
In spite of the cloudiness, however, it was
clearer on the surface of the water than it
had been on Saturday. There was no haze
to restrict the spectators horizon. In the
upper bay there was hardly breath of
wind, and there were many who expected
that the race would be drifting match.
AS the steamers and yachts began to
gather about the Scotland light, from
where the start was to be made, there was
still little prospect of breeze. The clouds
were almost continuous overhead, but now
and then faint CLINT on the water gave
promise of sunshine to come.
The two contestants were off Sandy Hook
shortly after 10 o'clock with sails hoisted,
waiting for signals from the judges boat
Sylvia to show how the course would lie.
The Sylvia had come to anchor near the
Scotland lightship, and that indicated that
the start would be made from her and not
from the Sandy Hook lightship. A little
later she ran up three flags, signaling that
the first leg OF the triangular course would
be southeast one-haf east, the second west
southwest and the third north one-haH
east. The wind, which was still very light,
was blowing from west-southwest.
The yachts were going through their
PAGES near the lightship, affording the
spectators an excellent chance to compare
them. The change in the Defenders top
sail, which was shortened about two feet
on Sunday, made her resemble the Vigi.
liant more strongly than ever. The Vigi-
liant was carrying all plain sail with her
balloon jib in stops. The Defender had
out the same canvas, except that her jib
was also in stops.
At Ills the preparatory gun was fired
from the Sylvia. and the two racers tackled
and unanswered for position for the next
ten minutes. At IL :25 the second gun was
sounded, notifying the yachts that they
had two minutes in which to cross the
line.
The Defender, as on Saturday, was the
first over, and was followed by the Vigi-
liant 81 seconds later. The start nearly
resulted in disaster. !. The Vigilant was
standing for the line few seconds before
the starting gun was doomed. She broke
out her balloon jibtopsail and was racing
for the line at rate which would take
her across ahead of the gun. The De-
fender was pointing diagonally toward the
line, with the Vigilant on her starboard
bow. Had both held their course there
would have been collision. The De-
fender had the right of way and held on,
forcing the Vigilant to round up in the
wind and narrowly miss hitting the Scot
land Ightship. The Vigilant displayed a
protest flag as a result of this maneuver.
The Defender swung across the line thirty
seconds after the gun-fire. The Vigilant
was thirty-on seconds later.
The Defender broke out her balloon jib
topsail Immediately after crossing the line.
The wind was west-northwest, and it was
broad reach with booms to port at first.
There was barely enough wind to fill the
sails. The sails Of the Vigilant seemed to
set better than those of the Defender.
The latter held her lead of about three