The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-08-07
MR. WILLARD IS ANGRY.
Will Not Allow Vigilant to Again
Compete with Defender,
THIS MAY PREVENT TRIAL RACES,

The Decision Brought About by the Neglect
OF the Defender to Yield at the Proper
Time-The vignant Again Signnny De-
fested by the Fin Keel Boat
NEWPORT, r. l., Aug. IF any addi-
tional test had been needed to show that
the fin keel yachE Defender is a better all
round boat in light weather than the cen
terboard ViRilant it was furnished yes
terday, when those yachts raced over
twenty-one mile equiatcral triangular
course outside Of this harbor, for 5000
cup offered by Mr.. J. r. Drexel
The course was one which gave the con
testants every chance Of showing what
they could do. They started out on beat
OF seven miles to windward, then had a
full reach of the same distance, and f.
nally run home before the wind for seven
miles more. In the first two legs the De-
fender easily showed her superiority. On
the run before the wind the Vigilant with
her centerboard hauled up and spinnaker
set for half the distance gained only
minute and thirteen seconds, when it was
expected that the keelboat would sustain
loss Of about two minutes in that sort
of sailing. The result of the day only con-
hrmed the opinion that is universally held
on the question of the comparative merits
of the yachts
The official time of the yachts in yester-
days race was as follows:
Elapsed
start Finish Time.
:R5:b5 2:lOB 2:44:lo
Nigilant .........."ll:26:46 H:l7:H 2:6O:2S
When the Defender and Vigilant were
jockeying for position to Cross the line the
big yachts came pretty close together at
one time. Both were on the starboard
tack, SO there was no question as TO who
had the right of way, excepting by the
rule that the overhauling vessel should
yield. In this case the Defender was the
OveThauler, but the Vigilant, as she did
off Sandy Hook, eased off and avoided
what might possibly have been collision.
This led to serious consequences, for last
night Mr.. Willard who is George Gould's
representative and the manager of the
Vigilant, declared in letter to the RS
gatta committee of the New York Yacht
club that the Defender jockeyed his boat
so unfairly at the start of yesterdays race
and off Sandy Hook on July ~, that he
declines to meet her again. He said very
plainly that he felt the Defender had
treated the Vigilanu in rowdy fashion, and
he wanted no more to do with her.
In his letter Mr.. Willard says: II have
now twice given way to Defender at the
start of race when Vigilant clearly had
the right of way, because l was unwilling
to risk collision which might leave
America without cup defender. How
ever willing | may have been to waive my
rights in the past, am not willing to go
l,,;
1 were it is quite possible that a situation
might be created in which a collision
would be inevitable. Mr.. Gould's sole de-
sire, as well as my own, is that tho cup
may be defended by the fastest American
sloop, which might not be the case if Wig,
/ liant and Defender collided"
As soon ms the committee received Mr.
/ Wizards letter all hands of them went
/ out to see the writer Of the missiye and
/ had a long talk with him The result OF
/ the interview is not officially known and
| probably will not be known until the
clouds of war settle, but the appearance
/ of Mr.. Willard after it took place was one
that indicated irmness of intention that
could not be mistaken. That there is
strong feeling between the owners of the
Defender and Vigilant is evident,
This stand taken by the Yigilant's peo
pie bids fair to aunul the action of the
meeting of the America $ cup committee
held on the flagship Sylvia yesterday af
ternoon, when it was decided to hold for
NAL trial races off Sandy Hook on Aug
20 and %, and further races if they should
be seen to be necessary. As it had been
tacitly agreed that only the Vigilant and
Defender should participate in these trials
the prospect is today that they will not bt
held.