The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-30
The Ffn-Keel Yacht Outsails Her Op-
ponent I'm All Kinds Of Weather
and Finishes Far in the Lead.
VALKYRIE TAKES A SPIN
But FAILS TO MAKE A SHOWING
LIKE THE AMERICAN BOAT.
Neither vigilant Nor the Englishmen
Able 40 Carry the Sail Defender
Does I'm a Severe Blow.


race between Defender and Vigilant over
triangular course. eight miles to the leg,
starting from the Scotland lightship. was
one of the most interesting events that ever
took place in New York harbor. There
were all kinds of weather, from almost a
dead calm to blow of forty miles an hour
In every point of sailing and in every kind
of weather the Defender showed herself
to be Ear superior TO the Vigilant. The
Valkyrie made little bit of show Of
herself while the racers were at work, but
1t was so little that no estimate could be
placed on her qualities compared with
that ofseither Defender or Vigilant.
The regatta committee of the New York
Yacht Club, which had the race in charge.
let the boats off in regular time. When they
reached the line Defender was twelve Sec
oads ahead, and with that difference they
made their start. Both boats stood we'll
off to the southwark. which gave them a.
beam wind. For 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 vigilant until at the end Of
two miles she had lead of over half
mile.
out from her berth inside the Hook, showed
up in the open and undertook to chase the
racers. She fell into the same breeze that
Defender and Vigiant had had when they
started on their journey, and carried II
with her down the course for two miles,
when it collapsed. Defender and Visilant
had the breeze desert them some time oe-
fore and they were only standing still when
the English boat nearly came upon them
with rush that was occasioned by the
breeze which all had been favored with
up to the northward, but which dropped
at a point about two miles to the south
ward OF the line. The Valkyrie got down to
within three-quarters of mile of Vigi-
liant and finding herself in practical calm
she went about in laboring way and head
ed for home. Experts VIII, watched The
English boat said that even in that very
light air and the smoothest kind of sea she
made good deal Of commotion from her
bows. even more than Vigilant
In the almost imperceptible breeze, De-
fender made headway. The boats Jagged
along for almost two hours in that way,
Defender continually gaining. When. De-
SENDER finally rounded the first sf4ssssS<zshes
occupied three minutes and half in set
ting her spinnaker. Then began a run be-
fore the wind for eight miles. At no time
have Defender and Vigilant met in a run
before the wind before to-day, when Vigi-
liant has not beaten Defender. But to-day
the keel boat covered the eight miles in
not only better time, but by gaining the
astounding advantage Of two minutes and
thirteen seconds.
A BIG BLACK SQUALL.
After rounding the second mark a big
black squall came out from the southwest
and went for the sails of the racers. 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 Mr. Iselin,
Captain Haff and Nat Hereshoff, all of
whom were aboard were content TO let the
people see that they had a boat which
could stand up in a breeze of wind The
sheet of her jib parted under the strength
of the forty mile wind and within
minute the headsail was in ribbons. With
in three minutes the fragments had been
hauled down and another new and whole
sail set in its place. This last leg was
a close reach for home The Viglant not
being able to withstand the blow, took
down her club topsail soon after rounding
the second mark and shortly after with
drew her baby jib topsail. The Valkyrie
got a little piece of this squall as she was
returning TO her berth, but Captain Gram
field hauled down all head sails and the
prodigious club topsails. But it was said
by the sharps who looked at her from
Sandy Hook that with only the massive
main sail set she keeled over enough to show
that she is very tender for one so big. De-
fender went on fairly boiling through the
water. Her deck was on the level and her
performance was simply marvellous.
After the squail, when the wind dropped
to about ten miles an hour and lasted at
that strength up to the finish, Defender
went on increasing the gap that was be-
tween her stern and vigilant. So it can
be seen that in every point of sailing even
in the run before the wind with spinnakers
set and in all strengths of breeze. the
Defender not only outsailed the Viglant
but beat her almost ridiculously. And yet
the Americas cup committee does not seem
to be satisfied that Defender Is the better
boat, for they have ordered another trial
race for tomorrow.
The following table will show how the
Defender beat Viglant: