The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-30
Tested i'm a Calm and in a
Forty-Mile Gale.
SHE BEAT THE viGIlANT EASILY.
The Yalkyrie Goes Ont as if to Chase
the Two Americans.
Her Bow Disturbs the smooth Sea
More Than the Defenders. and In
the Gale She Heels over-The Brit
Usher Lowers Her Club TopsaiI. but
the Defender Uses Hers.

New York. Aug. e.-The second trial
race between the Defender and Yigilant
over triangular course. eight miles To
the leg. started from Scotland lightsnip.
was one OF the most interesting events
that ever took place in New York har-
bor. There was all kinds OF weather.
from almost dead calm TO a blow OF
forty miles an hour. In every point of
sailing and In every kind of weather the
Defender showed herself TO he far supe-
rior 10 the Nigiiant. The Valkyrie made
a little bit of show OF herself while the
racers were at work, but ii was SO light
that no estimate could be placed on her
qualities as compared with those of either
the Defender or Nig!lant.
The regatta committee of the New York
Yacht Club, which had the race In charge.
let the boats of in regular time. When
they reached the line the Defender was II
seconds ahead, and with that difference
1hey made their start.
Both boats stood off well to the south
ward, which gave them a beam Wind. For
"a couple OF miles the breeze continued
blowing at the rate Of seven or eight
knots an hour. and they went ahead fast.
The Defender continually gained on the
Nlgilant until at the end OF two miles
she had lead OF over half mile.
Ar this time the Nalkyrie. which had
come out from her berth inside the Hook,
showed up in the open and undertook 10
chase the racers She fell into the same
breeze that the Defender and Nigilant
had when they started on their josney,
and II carried her down the course for two
miles. when IL collapsed. The Defender
and Nigiiant had the breeze desert them
some time before. and they were only
standing still when the English boat near
~ came up on them with rush that was
oceasioned by the breeze which all had
han x.-fsE srvau haaf
which dropped at a point about two miles
10 the southwark Of the line. When the
Nalkyrie got down 10 within three-quar-
ters OF a mile Of the Nigilint and found
herself in q practical calm. she went about
In a laboring way and headed for home.
Experts who watched the English boat
said that even in very light air and the
smoothest kind Of sea she made a good
deal of commotion from her bow, even
more than the Eigilant.
In the almost imperceptible breeze the
Defender made headway. The boats lag
ged along for almost two hours in that
way the Defender continually gaining.
When the Defender finally rounded the
first mark she occupied three minutes and
a half in setting her spinnaker. Then be-
gan rush before the wind for eight miles.
Heretofore in a run before the wind the
Nigilant has gained on the Defender, but
today the keel boat not only covered the
eight miles In better time. but gained the
astounding advantage Of two minutes and
twelve seconds over the Nigilant.
After rounding the second mark a big
black squall came up out Of the west. The
Defender had no sooner turned the mark
when the gale was upon her. She stood it
bravely, and there was no inclination to
take In her big club topsail. The sheet OF
her jib parted under the strength Of the 40
mile wind, and within minute the head
sail was i'm ribbons Within three minut es
the fragments had been hauled down and
another new and whole sail set In it's place
This last leg was a close race for home
The NigllaDf. not being able 10 withstand
the wind. took down her club topsails
soon after rounding the second mark. and
shortly afterward withdrew her baby jib
topsail.
The Valkyrie got little piece Of this
squall as she vas returning TO her berth.
but Capt. Cranfieli hauled down all the
head sails and the prodlClous club topsal
Bat 1t was said by the sharps who looked
at her from Sandy Hook that with only her
massive mainsail she kceied over enough
10 show that she Is very tender for one 50
big The Defender went on. fairly flying
through the water Her deck was level.
and her performance was simply marvel
ous.
When tho wind dropped to about ten
miles an hour and lasted at the stretch w
20 the I'm sh the Defender went on increas-
ing the gap between herself and the Vigil
liant So It can be seen that ia every
point Of sailing. even In the run before
the wind with spinnakers set. and I'm all
strengths OF breeze. the Defender not only
outsailed the Nigilaut. but beat her al
most ridiculously. And yet the Ameri-
cas- cup committee does not seem 90 he
satisfied that the Defender IS the hotter
boat. for they have ordered another trial
rare for tomorrow