The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-03
VIGILANT WON AGAIN
DEFENDER BROKE A GAFF IN THE
RACE FOR THE GOBLET CUP.
The New Yacht Nearly Ten Minutes
Ahead When She Was Compelled
to Signal for the Tug.

NEWPORT. r. l.. Aug. 2.-The vigilant
won the Goelet cup for sloops to-day be-
cause the Defender was forced to withdraw
from the race within half dozen miles
of the finish on account OF a broken gaff.
But for this accident the vigilant would
probably have been nine minutes or more
behind the Defender. So far as practical
results go the race only reiterated what
everybody knows, that the Defender is
the fastest light-weather boat ever built
in America. She outpointed and outfooted
the Vigilant in the beat to windward, which
was the first leg of the course. and gained
much more on her during the second leg, a
run dead before the wind. course sup
posed to be most favorable to the center
board yacht. But just as the new vessels
undertook a stretch for home, with only
six and a half miles of the entire thirty
eight miles to cover. her hollow gaff
snapped in two and she was compelled to
give up. At the turning Of the second mark
the Defender was seven minutes and twen-
ty-fve seconds ahead Of the vigilant on
the time consumed from the start, and she
had the same opportunity to lengthen the
gap that she had OF Sandy Hook on July
Increased her lead. The last part of the
race was a closer stretch, but the high
pointing qualities of the fin keller justified
the statement that she would have gained
Although the vigilant won the cup 1t is
a growing opinion that the American cup
races will be necessary, because the sailing
Of the Defender to-day was good enough
to evidence her continuous Improvement,
and that is all that is wanted In the way
of information.
The Jubilee and Volunteer. which also
started to-day. were never in the hunt with
Defender and Vigilant, although the Jubilee
did make better time than the Vigilant on
the eighteen-mile run before the wind from
Block island to the West island lightship
When the flagship Sylvia took up her posi-
ton near the iightship there was an eight
knot breeze blowing. From that time on
the zephyr increased. until at times during
fourteen miles. Many steam yachts, sail
ing vessels and excursion steamers went
down to the lightship to see the start and
follow the racers.
The boats rounded the first mark at West
island like this: Defender. H. 4Om. 25s Vigil
liant. In. 46m: 29s.; Jubilee. H. som. S.; Vol
AS soon as the Defender got around the
first stakeboat she set her big spinnaker
and balloon jib topsail for a run before the
wind. The other yachts did the same. Then
came the run to West island. During this
the Defender gained materially on the Vigil
liant, going around second mark at 3h. Ann.
los.' while the vigilant did not show is until
seven minutes thirty-five seconds actual
gamer on the Vigilant from the start, and
four and half minutes Ia the rough. The
Volunteer was nowhere. She did not turn
until An lam. sos. Then came the trouble
The Defender had not been past the mark
more than a minute when her mainsail was
seen to collapse. A second glance showed
that the staff had split right in its middle
and the two parts were sticking down into
the mainsail. tug was sfgnaled for and
the Defender taken in tow for Bristol
where repairs will be made.
The Vigilant went on, winning the cup,
gaining very much on tie Jubilee in the
last stretch. 1t is a matter of universal re-
greet that it could not be seen how much the
new boat would come in ahead OF the Vigi-
lant for 1t Is conceded that the Defender
does better every time she starts.