Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-07-15
FINEST IN HER CLASS.
Opinion of the Defender by Those
Who Have Seen Her Work.
Hastily 0utpd&nted and Out
sailed the Vigilant.


NEWPORT, IL. L., July lO.-The Defender
sutsailed the victorious Vigilant in a fair
and interesting contest yesterday after
noon off the Rhode Island coast, and the
members of Tire syndicate, who followed
every movement Of both boats, expressed
themselves as well pleased with the result.
The new yacht again behaved admirably,
and both outsailed and outpointed her
opponent. The crew of the Defender made
quick time in bringing her about again, 1t
only requiring Is seconds to change her
course.
The Defender arrived here in tow of a
tug early yesterday morning Captain
Han was In charge, and after spending
two hours in making preparations for a
sail, waited for the Vigilant to put In her
appearance. Just before II o'clock the
latter was seen coming down the bay under
sail.
Captain Half at once gave orders to get
under way and lay I'm waiting for the Wig
liant As she approached, the Defenders
crew hoisted clubtopsail The Vigilant
did the same and both boats headed sea-
ward, the Defender in the lead. The lat
tcrs sails fitted perfectly. Her clubtcs-
sail was much larger than the Vigilant's,
and gave her q decided advantage.
Shortly otter IL o'clock the boats were
sighted of Castle hill, their sails taking
good breeze, which came from the north
west and which was sending them along
ut lively rate. The spinnaker booms
were then run out to starboard on both
yachts. The Vigilant broke her spinnaker,
but the syndicate boat waited for her TO
come up.
At 1l:15, when both yachts were half a
mile north Of Beavers Tail light, the De-
fender broke her spinnaker, and both
sts.sted on pm even line, heading south by
cast. During the ,aext fey minutes the
Defender had considerable tirnuble With
her spinnaker, and IL was taken In thee |
times before IL fell properly. On this ac-
count she lost ground. The Vigilants
spinnaker was much larger, but It did not
draw as we'll as the Defenders after ID was
adjusted.
At noon the vigilant hauled in close to
the other yacht, and the Defender was
trile ahead. At 1905 p. M. after having
xpn eight miles in 81 minutes, the vigi-
i&ht took in her spinnaker and headed to-
ward tho Narragansett shore. The Do
fender Immediately followed. When they
came about. the vigilant was two lengths
ahead, with the wind on the beam. The
Defender at once
Began to Crawl Ahead
from leeward, soon opening O space Of two
lengths between her and the Gould boat.
In few minutes more the distance was
doubled. Both boats were then carrying
balloon jibs
At 1920 the Defender came about and
set her jib and staysail and hauled down
the balloon jib. The baby jibtopsail was
also set. The Vigilant came about seven
minutes later and set the same sails Her
Nbtopsail was nearly twice the size of the
Defenders. Both boats pointed we'll, but
the Defender showed marked superiority
In this respect as well as in speed on this
tack.
At 1913 they came about on the first
tack, the Defender far ahead and we'll up
to windward The latter came about
and pulled away in lbs. Both continued
ON the same leg until after o'clock, when
a sauall was seen coming from the south
ward. The Vigilant at once came about
took In her head sails and was taken in
tow by her tender The latter headed for
New London. With the squall came q
Shift Of wind from the south The De-
fender took in her clubtopsail and set her
working t6bsafi, came about and put to
sea IL q 12-knot breeze.
In order to show what she could do,
after making a long reach, she was headed
for Point Judith which the Vigilant was
about rounding in tow Of the tender The
Vigilant was soon overhauled and APP
parently anxious for another brush, she |
again got under sail. But after short
trial, in which she was again beaten, the
Vigilant gave up the race, and the De-
fender returned to Newport.
The crew of the Defender on their re-
turn spoke in high terms of her behavior.
Captain Half was elated with her work
after Ghe squall, and all who observed the
yacht expressed confidence in her ability
70 compete with anything in her class