Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-30
The Defender Again Leads Vigilant
Home.
CRACK YACHTS AGAIN RACING
The British VaIkyrie Hanging on
Their Skirts.
INCIDENTS OF THE DAY

y,
the water almost free from obscuring haze
or fog, gave promise at $50 o'clock of a
more interesting contest between the
yachts Defender and Vigilant than the one
which took place yesterday.
During the morning the wind held nearly
steady to the northeast and about twelve
knots an hour The temperature had
moderated greatly during the night. and
the air was fresh. There were indications
of falling off in the number of steamers
and yachts that would follow the course
or the racers, the outcome of yesterdays
sail having satisfied the general public of
the superiority of Defender.
With Valkyrie III near by the two
American yachts had passed the night
anchored inside the horseshoe. the tenders
or three racers lying alongside their re-
spective charges.
The Defender left her moorings at 9:15
towed by tug and went outside of the
Hook. With her mainsail Set she went
out. and Eigilant set her working sails.
By this time the wind had hauled around
to the eastward. blowing at about the rate
of eleven knots hour.
Vigiiant then set her jib and staysail, and
few minutes later. say 9:22 am, she
was under way, heading for the Hook.
with Defender half way up there and still
in tow. Defender at 9:30 broke out her
jib and dropped her tow.
The yachts then began beating out
around the Hook, the Vigilant to the wind
ward.
The wind still held from the east. and
mad increased its strength to about fifteen
knots at this point.
At $50 am. both yachts were on the
starboard tack, with Vigilant two miles
outside of the Hook and Defender two
miles inside. vigilant was evidently feel
Ing the effect of the sea kicking up outside
the Hook, under the influence of the east
erly wind.
EaIkyrie Preparing to Set Out.
Shortly before 10 o'clock it was noticed
that Valkyrie was preparing to get under
way, much to the delight of those ashore,
who were very much desirous of seeing
what she would do in The breeze then blow
Ing and the sea running. The lashings Of
her mans1l were cast off and she hauled
up her jo in stops. Then her crew pre-
pared to hoist her mainsail.
Nigilant soon after 1895 IN. took in her
working torsail and set her club topsail.
Defender about three miles back,
having just passed out by the Hook.
The wind was blow ing twelve miles from
the east and everything pointed to fast
racing.
The City of Bridgeport, with Lord Dun
ravens guests on board, was running ont
from the Highlands to Valkyrie, which had
her staysail and jib in stops.
Valkyrie at 10:4S began hostins sail.
Vigilant went about a port tack for the
-lghtship
Beat to Windwnrd and Return.
The judges boat at about 1850 am. sig
nailed that course No. l would be sailed.
Consequently it was arranged that the
yachts should leave Scotland nghtsllip and
beat ten miles to windward, round a mark
there on the starboard hand and run back
ten miles before the wind.
Defenders sails seemed to fit much bet
ter than yesterday. This was especially
the case with her club topsail, which set
like ball.
tow c;tr hoiS fa1
II :0235. At the time both yachts were
heading for the line on the starboard tack
Visilant being the nearest to the stake
boat The starting signal was hoisted at
11:1235, and Defender crossed the line at
the same moment. The official times of
HM.S.
Defender III O1 Us
NlSllant Il 4O
The Start.
HMS
Defender .........................1l 10 Us
Nigilant ............................ lO lo
Previous to getting away both yachts got
a little too close to the line and were COM
PEELED to hold off, in order to avoid cross
Ing before the signal. This compelled Vigi
liant to so astern of Defender. and gave the
latter the wndward position. Defender
just saved herself from going across be-
fOra the signal.
After crossing the line both yachts luff-
cd up we'll into the wind. In two minutes
The latter carried baby jibtopsail; the
former did not. Both yachts went about
on port tack at 11:1I2 30. and headed along
the Jersey shore. At II: % Defender was
leading Niglant. Her mainsail appeared
to be third larger than Vigilant's. A nice
breeze was blowing from the eastward.
Naikyrie soon after the start passed out |
side of the Hook under mainsail working
topsail. foresail and jib. She seemed to
dive deeper into the swell than either Vigil |
ant OF Defender.
= Defap1ar " 1au OFT a
and to windward Of Vigilant, though she |
carried one sail less: Defender did not |
seem to jump into the swell as much as |
Valkyre was then standing down from |
the main ship channel along shore, on the |
port tack, the same as the American |
yachts, which carried their club topsails |
agar st the Britisher's working topsail.
Defender at 11:33 had the lead of nearly |
a quarter of 4 mile on Vigilant, and was |
fast orlting her way to windward of her |
They both went about on the starboard |
tack and stood toward the Long Island |
shore, sailing remarkably fast. and not |
laying down to any extent, although the |
wind was fresh from the eastward. |
Better at Every Point.
Defender stood up better under her can
vas than Vigilant, and was outpointing, |
outsailing and drawing further ahead than !
her competitor every moment
At 1l:3S both yachts were standing off |
shore on the starboard tack. The racers |
We're not nindered by the excursion fleet |
today, as it was small in number and the |
schooners which went out to the racers !
had already been left far in the rear.
How VallSyrie Sailed.
Valkyre had also gone about on the |
starboard tack, and was then sailing under |
the same conditions as the two American |
yachts. Although she had only a small |
working topsail up she seemed to heel |
down to it more than Defender or Vigilant |
and did not leave water as cleanly as the |
former.
The clean manner in which Defender
went through the water was really sur
prising. There not the slightest bit |
or foam to De seen seward, while the Wig
llants lee rail- was continually smothered.
AT II 90 the two racers were nearly half |
way down to the outer mark and were |
sailing a remarkably fast race. Defender |
had lead of nearly half mile over Wig |
liant.
Shortly after 12 o'clock both Defender
and Eigilant went about on the mort tocL |