Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-21
DID DEFENDER FUNK?
ANYHOW SHE HAULED OFF HER COURSE
1t Is Possible the White Beauty Is Too Tender for Stiff Breeze .VlgiIant Gets ss
 the Race.

New York Aug. 20.-The first of the ap- pointed trial races to decide whether the Defender or the Vigilant shall be select ed to defend the Americas cup, which was run today, resulted in a disappoint- ment all around.
 The Defender, after outsailing her ri- val decisiyely over the first round and continuing to increase her lead for sev- eral miles on the second, suddenly with drew and stood off for her anchorage. This was due apparently to dislncli- nation to risk ths sloop further in the strong and steadily increasing breeze, which had blown up since the race start ed. MT. Iselin >-ld the others on the Det fender would not admit that a mishap had occurred, and there was no indlca- tions of any. This made the Britishers, who were watching the contest with ea- gerness, only the more jubilant. as it looked very much like a backdown, and they believe the Vall<yrie III can stand nearly any kind of weather. After the Defenders retreat the Vigilant kept stur- dily on her course. beating up into thirty mile wind and pounding through a rolling and tumbling sea- Even after she had split her new Herreshoff jib she set another, and in a few minutes continued sticking to her work. When she had completed about three-quarters of the second windward beat she was recalled by the judges, who assured Mir. Willard that the race was ended and the Vigilant was the winner. Then the old champion put about and ran for her anchorage. She did not return to the starting point but kept in shore on the run home The unprecedented result was afforded of an important race and $2000 being in a con- test in which neither contestant went over the course or finished.
 Yachtsmen are feeling rather gloomy tonight oyer the result of the race as fn f1fxt r tl,n Defender in the one important point on which she has heretofore been thorough " tested. The experts had been express ing the hope all along that in the trial races the Defender would have a chance to show what she could do in trial wind. If she is to turn too tender for such it. is not hopeful argury for her races in September with the staunch and broad beamed Valkyrie III.
 The Vigilant's victory will not neces- sarily affect the Defenders claim to rep resent America in the coming races. Commodore Smith said before the race that the winner of the series might not be the yacht selected to meet the Valky rie. That, he said, would rest with the committee in any event. It is not likely, however, that more than two trial races will be held, though no announcement has been made yet on that point.
 As originally scheduled there were to be two trial races-one today and an other on Thursday. Today's contest, be- sides being one of these series, was for the handsome cup offered by John Jacob Astor. The course was ten miles to wind ward and return. It was not announced beforehand whether the yachts should go over the course once or twice, but it was arranged that the signals should be dis. played from the judges boat in case the double round was decided upon after the race had started If it had ended with the first round the Defender Nould have put a clean and decisive victory to her credit. In the first ten mile beat to windward she gained six minutes, thirty three seconds on the Vigilant. She lost one minute and thirty-three seconds of this on the run back but this was due largely to slowness in setting her spin hacker, and it left her with gain of ex- actly five minutes in the twenty minutes.
 Late in the evening some of the mem- bers of the Americas cup committee met at the club house on Fifth avenue and held a short conversation. At it's conclu- sion the following was announced:
 "The Americas cup committee an nounces that trial races will not be re- sumed until next week.
 "A. CANDIFIELD, Secretary"
 Ex-Commodore Nicholas Kane of the committee said the judges were officially notified by Mir. Iselin that the sudden withdrawal of the Defender today was
 
 rigging, which made 1t unsafe for the boat to stand the course the second time. How the Defenders rigging is weakened could not be aseertaned, but it is thought that the damage is such that it will re- quire several days to put the Defender in racing form. It is, possible that the pro- posed races may be held next Tuesday or Thursday, but the committee have no definite information on this point.
 There was large gathering of mem bers al the club house during the even- ing, and much regret was expressed at the unsatisfactory outcome of todays race.
 Mr. Arthur Glenn, Lord Dunraven's per- sonal friend and representative, watched the race from the club boat Luckenback. Mr. Glenn when requested to give his opinion of the qualities shown by the Defender in today's contest said: "The Defender stands up well. but she is very light. l am surprised at the extreme lightness of her boom. She is a grand little boat, though, and she gave the Wig liant a fair and square beating on the first round''
 What do you think of the relative abilities of the Defender and Valkyrie?"
 'It is impossible to form any opinion from this contest, as we have no means of knowing whether the Vigilant is im- proved or not"
 The Americas cup committee an- nounced officially today that the first rac ce for the Americas cup would take place September 2.
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