New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-12
A FLYER IN ALL WINDS.
DEFENDER SHOWS HER MERIT
a WORTHY ANTAGONIST FOR lord DUN
RAVENS cUP-CHALLENGER


MlRArIoN FROM ALL BEHoLDERs-sToRIEs OF
HER TENDERNESS DESTROYED AND HER
REMARKABLE oUIcKNEss IN STAYS
DEMONSTRATED - THE RACE WITH
THE vIGILANr MAY TAKE PLACE
ON SATURDAY
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.]
Bristol. r. l.. July 1.-THE promised race be-
tween the Defender and the Vigilant did not take
place to-day, but the Defender unaualifedly
proved the falsity Of the stories of her tender
ness under sail. She gave an exhibition OF her
sailing qualities which not only excited the ad-
mration Of the builders, the owners. the crew
and the SPECTATORS but which made their bosoms
swell with American pride. The entire course
which she sailed was about twenty-five miles in
actual length on Narragansett Bay but as the
run to Newport was made by long ana snort
legs the actual distance sailed was many miles
more At one time when she had the benent OF
a moderate wind. what nautical men term
fullsail breeze she made a speed OF thirteen
miles an hour and she was tried on all points
of sailing she proved hei worthiness or the name
she bears and there seems to be no doubt that
IN the races with Valkyrie III. II she does we'll
nc she did to-day she will be both Defender ana
Defeater.
speedy boat in light as well as in heavy weather.
A fou davs ago Mr. Herreshoff said there need
be no apprehensions as to her success IN 'he
Auer,cas Gun races If she could only nave
heavy weather but he would not be so certain or
bar In light weather. Her sailing to-day settled
tho ouestion as to what she can do in either
light or heavy weather most satisfactorily ana
a ,s safe TO say. Make your bets. gentlemen
WHY THE vIGILANT DID NOT START.
Tho reason that the Vigiant did not go out
NTH the Defender to-day was because r. "A.
willard who represents George J. Gould owner
of the former yacht. telegraphed that ne was
unable to return to Bristol before FridaS' hehoe
the test Of the qualities OF the TWO poa's o''
equal terms postponed IL was ho' 'e'
tain tonight that the duel would take place TO-
morrow. but the probability Is that the TWO
boats will go out on Saturday. and the course
will probably be The triangular one OF New
port known as the Brenton's Reef course
No Yacht ever presented more animated ana
beautiful picture than aid the Defender under
sail. and she was saluted with many gun by
ths Yachts which mes her. When the morning
working hour came at the Herreshoff works. the
scene about the decks and in the cabins and
esnecially above the decks, warranted the opin-
ions expressed that "She will not sail to-day
and IL the wishes of some had prevailed she
would not have gone out for the work on her
is far from being finished. The mechanics kept
on with their work below decks. and IN snort
time every sailor of the crew of the Colon'a had
been transferred to the Defender and set 10
yvork at the rigging. The headsails and the
topsails which had been in the loft undergoing
.ite~sttuns were board. and at II
O'Clock the Defender was hauled from her dock
and anchored out in the bay, where the sails
were bent and rigging put In working condition
DEFENDER OFF FOR A SPIN
soon after noon people gathered along the
snore and steam and sailing yachts came in one
after another c. Oliver Iselin. one of the syndi-
cate was early on board of the Defender. and
under his instructions :he preparations for a
test Of the sails were begun. AT 2:10 the main
sail was hoisted and the cable was hove snort
Then the jb and forestaysail were SET ana hVe
minutes later the anchor was hove up under
the bows. and off the fleet yacht went under
light breeze at a speed Of about six miles an
hour with hardly a ripple thrown from her
bows. She seemed to ride over the water. and
the water In her wake was almost smooth The
wind was light from the southwest. and the
Yacht went off on the starboard tack down
Bristol Harbor toward Newport. sailing so
sharp on the wind that the boom lay almost
fiat aft
Captain NAT" Eerreshoff had the wheel
throughout, with the exception OF little time
when Mr.. Isen took ner in hand. Captain
"Hank" Half. who will be the skipper OF the
yacht In the Americas Cup races. was on board
and carefully inspected the set of the sails and
the rigging and watched with Keen eye her
every movement Herbert c. Leeds. VINO mas
represented Mr.. Iselin. was on board, as were
also Mrs Iselin. Woodbury. Kane and crew OF
thirty-two sailors Following the Defender
were many steam and sailing yachts, among the
former being Herreshoff's Eugen!a, r. d. MOT
ipan's Shearwater Mr.. Flints Half Moon Fred
erick W. vanderbilt's Tonqueror. Edgar s.
Scotts Sycamore. the Canadian yacnt GIaoys'
the sakonnet. the Nautilus ana Jonn ahtr 0aratr
Browns Ballymena. Among the sailing yachts
were the Aschooners Iroquos and lntrepo ana
the soop Uvira Captain Barr, the exper; SKIP
per Of the vgant followed tne ',, no soon
turned back, evidently ronciudihg thah tne De :.
fender "a no mean antagonist for the Vigilant TO
meet.
IN A FREsHENING BREEZE
The further the Defender went toward New
port the stronger grew the breeze hehce 'he
conditions for developing any defects' as wei
as exhibiting her good qualities. became more
-a,,or.,,. O,,y once d.d the wonderful craft
heel over SO that the water touched tne zee
ira.l but at no time did IT wash any par, oi me- ,es
deck. Most OF the time tnat ehT sv,1d The rail
Vas not less than a foot out OF the wateI. am. anu
she was making "a pace OF at Ieas. ,a' t.ia .ee'
miles an hour. Her sails. with the exception rss C.:
tba naInsail set perfectly. The mansail was
sau,," nni, IN the leech and this Mapped
thronshout the whole course. When It G Is tred ne,
once or twice more much, if not al OF snas iu,. are
NOT tho .aiIs that are to be used In the AmeTi-
cas- Cup races.
A PICTURE OF BEAUTY.
The Defender was kept about half an nour OH
the first tack. and then she went OF on her po'
tack. and made a short reach toward fruue"oe
Island. Five minutes later she came aoou, o''
the starboard tack. when her CLUB toPsa'', a,d q
fne-setting canvas. was run up anu ,. =. ~
effective work. the speed increasing coupie -, -,
miles an hour. Thus she kept on makihs SII Wne
and long legs down the passage Deiow Ia nU5 o5