The record-union., 1895-08-30
THE DEFENDER.
SHE ADMINISTERS a DRUBBING
TO THE VIGILANT.
Reviving Hopes of Americans That the
Challenge Cup VIII Not be Taken
Abroad This Year.

drubbing which the Defender admins
tered 10 the Vigilant in the second of the
official trial races to-day has had the
effect of decidedly reviving the hopes OF
the yachtsmen in this vicinity, which
have been dropping somewhat since the
syndicate boat broke down in her last
race and failed to finish.
1t was evident that she was much inn
proved by the substitution Of a thicker
stick for her old one, and she was able to
carry medium-si club topsail
through the squall which struck the
boats on the last leg, standing up as stiff
as could be.
The Vigilant was beaten over every leg
of the course, and finished eighteen min
utes behind the Defender. Nearly half
this distance, however, Was due to the
fact that the wind died down after the
Defender had crossed the finish line and
while the Nigilant was still on her way
III.
The report that had been persistently
circulated that the Defender had been
held back in all her previous races with
the Vigilant, in order to disguise The real
extent OF her superiority, was lmmedl-
diately revived after the contest to-day,
and there were plenty OF yachtsmen who
shook their heads and said: Il told you
SOD
1t is moro probable. however, that the
improved form shown by the yacht Is
due entirely to the changes which have
Just been made in her. Sne looked filter
IN every way to-day than she was in any
OF her previous trials. The set of her
sails was almost perfect. although the
Vigilant, as before, had tride the better
of it in this respect. The Defenders 8
crew also seemed to shave gained in
quick ness, and there was less OF the dis
tressing delays in setting sails than be-
fore. The new boat kept up her record
tor accidents by splitting her Jlb on the
last leg. The cloth was quickly replaced
10y another one. and the mis-ap was of
slight consequence.
An additional element of interest was
lent to tie race by the appearance on the
course of the challenger. Valkyrie III.
1t was the first opportunity that anyone
has had to see the rival yachts sailing
anywhere near each other, and IL was
eagerly em mbraced by the enthusiasts.
Yachts and tugs closed i'll on the cutter
until it seemed she did not have room for
sailing. Peculiar wind conditions served
to make this appearance OF the Naikyrie
almost sensational one. She seemed to
be overhauling the two American yachts
with ease. She was about "a mile and a
half behind them at the start. While they
were drifting along in the light breeze,
the Valkyrie crept up on. them, bringing a
breeze with her. Within an hour she ap-
preached TO within less than half a mile
OF the Vigiiant, and the faces of the spec
tatOrs lengthened. Then she got into the
CLASSY area with the other yachts, and
slowed down. She continued to gain on
the Vigllant however, for few minutes
after sne had come into the same weather
conditions.
The Defender was also gaining Oh the
Vigilant at the same time. and the VAL
kyrie, not wishing to give the Americans
too good a line on her speed. put about
and went back up the bay. Her fast
work in the light wind was something of
q surprise, and confirmed the feeling that
she will come nearer to winning the
famous old cup than any of her prede-
CesSOrS.
The course decided upon for to-day's
race was triangular, eight miles TO leg.
The first leg was LAID southeast. the sec
onu north by east, half east, and the third
leg west by south. At the start the wind
was nearly due west so that the first leg
was broad reach, and the second leg
would have been reach also had not the
wind hauled around to the south-south-
| west, making 1t practically run. The
last leg was close roach.
The weather conditions were extremely
varlgated throughout the race. On the
| first leg the breeze was blowing seven
knots at the start, but it died away before
the mark was reached, until the yachts
were almost becalmed. AT that time and
later it was excessively hot. On the Sec
ond leg the breeze was a fair one for a
time, but again died away to almost
nothing. On the home reach it blew up
squall, with rain, thunder and light
ming At one time the wind reached
thirty knots.
The elapsed time of the two boats was
Defender, 4:49:40; Vigilant, 5:07:43. The
Defender won by eighteen minutes and
three seconds.
After the race was ended the America 8
Cup Committee met and decided to hold
the third trial race tomorrow at Ii A. NJ.
from Scotland lightship. Their boat went
alongside of the Defender, and Mr.. Iselin
was notified. They then informed Mr..
Gould on the Vigllant. Both boats an
chored in tue Horse Shoe for the night.
MIR. Gould went on board the Atalanta,
| which was anchored near the Vigilant.