Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-22
THE DEFENDER'S s INJURY
It Is Said to Be Something More
 Than a Mere Strain.
GONE TO BRISTOL TO BE REPAIRED.

New and Stouter Mast Is to Be Substitut-
 ed For the Present one-A Record of the
 Numerous Accidents That Have Happen
 ed to the New Yacht.
 NEW YORK, Aug. 22.-That something more serious than the stacking of the main rigging has happened to the Defend CT is the opinion of all yachtsmen who saw her race with the Vigilant on Tues day. The statement that she was with drawn from the race because she was in danger of losing her mast is probably true as far as it goes, but something of q moro serious nature is necessary to cause those who know the secret to be so downcast and for the haste with which the yacht was hurried off to Bristol.
 In Tuesdays race at the outer mark it looked very much as though the Defender was wild. Several attempts were made to jibe her, and then it was decided to ease off her boom as she was.
 When the second round was ordered, it was absolutely necessary to jibe over in order to haul on the wind. The light sails were taken in, and the crew took hold of the main sheet and began to turn it in. The wheel was put over, but again tho yacht ran wild and refused to answer her helm. At last, when she was under con- trol. the boom went over so hard that the yacht got a severe knockdown.- The strain on the mast must have been terri ble, and it was then that the damage was done to the masthead that caused the band to set down and the rigging to slack up. E
 If so much damage was done to the masthead, it is only natural to suppose that the boat was considerably strained around the maststep, and any strain there
  yachts laboring in heavy seaway with the standing rigging all slack.
 The Defender Lightly Constructed.
 The Defender is very lightly construct ed boat. Every possible pound has been saved in the material used in her makeup. The frames are of the lightest that could be consistently used, and it is possible that Mir. Herreshoff has fined things down a little too much. Before the yacht was launched a story was current that she had buckled. This the Herreshoffs strenously denied, but just at that time the alumin- ium deck beams had to be strengthened with steel straps, which certainly showed Il weakness. The Defender, when she touched on the sandbar at Newport, fetched up so hard that many thought she must be strained It is possible that something was started  this weak spot showed itself Just what the extent of tho damage is is probably only known to Nat HCrrcshoff, and he will never tell.
 The Defender left her mooringS off New Rochelle at II o'clock yesterday morning for Bristol, R. I. She was under reefed mainsail and jib. Mir. and Mrs. Iselir and Herbert c. Leeds were on board. MT Iselin declined to talk about the yacht | Captain Half looked glum, and no one on board appeared to be in good spirits. Be fore sailing Captain Half declined to give | any information except to say that tho | yacht would remain at Bristol until next ! Sunday.
 While at Bristol the yacht will have z new mast. Those on board say tho ol( ] mast showed signs of weakness, and so new one an inch larger in diameter thar i the present stick, or 23 inches, will b( put in.
 Her Career So Far Disappointing. The career uS the Defender so far ha. | been a disappointing one. She has broker down now three times. Tho first time her steering gear became deranged Thi: was on the run from Huntington to New | London. Tic wind was strong, and tht | strain on the new tangled gear caused il | to choke.
 
 | Goelct cup race. The wind had been { l good club topSail breczc but it was fresh ening considerably, and a little extra pull | snapped the staff. The third mishap wa on Tuesday in a fairly stiff breeze. Al l these tend to show that the Defender i | not a reliable boat in anything but ligh weather. A breakdown in race mus not be regarded as i'll luck. Just as mucl skill and judgment has to be shown il | preparing yacht for q race as in sailing l the yacht and if the boat breaks dow1 continually those in charge must bc helC responsible for bad judgment in using spars and rigging too light or sails too large. It is just as much an error of judg l mcnt as ovCrstanding a mark. This i what all the hest yachtsmCn say.
 Tho Nigilant has been rcmarkably fro, from accidents this year. In only ono rac, l -thc run from New London to Ncwpor | did anything of a serious nature hap | pen. Then her mainsail split. The tln | condition of the yacht reflects great crcdi on Mir. E. A. Willard and Captain Charles | Barr.
 It is probable that the next trial rae, | will be sailed next Tucsday-that is, i the Defenders damage has been repaired | by that time. It is to be hoped that thu yacht may be given another thorough tes l in good hard blow.