The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-29
Comparison Of Speed in
Americas Races.
Interesting Figures Presented by an
Experienced YaChsman.
The Vigilant as Opposed TO the Best
English Racers.

A dispatch reaching here one day before
Naikyrle iii sailed for this country states
that Captain Cranfield and his associates
have nothing TO fear from speed of
defender, as thus far recorded. They are
reported as saying that the new yacht
mas not defeated Vigilant as much as she
ought, In their judgment, TO occasion
any alarm in the minds o. the chal-
lenger's managers. This display Of con-
ndence on their part has Induced the
writer TO investigate the records made In
recent international races. The conclu-
sions formed from study thereof, show
that the race they are going to put up
this autumn must be a vast improvement
upon former attempts, or their confidence
Is Ill founded.
Commencing with the year 1885, 1t is
lounu That Puritan and Genesta had two
battles for the trophy. Puritan's average
time IN each race was minutes 5S
seconds less than Genesta's. In other
words, Puritan sailed every mile of the
total distance in 1874 seconds less time
than did Genesta.
In 1856, Mayfiower and Galatea sailed
TWO contests. Mayfower's average time
was Il minutes. IA seconds less than
Galatea's. Thus Mayfiower sailed each
mile In 32.7 seconds less time than
Galatea.
Volunteer and Thistle likewise had two
races In 1887 In these Volunteers aver
"bN tlilt was 40 a. bcCOuus ltsb
than Thistle's, a victory Oh 242 seconds
TO the mile for Volunteer.
Ihere were three races between Vlgilant
and Valkyrie In 1893 Vigilant's average
was minutes, Ia seconds less per race
than Valkyrie's. The Vlgilant sail ed
each mile of the total in las seconds less
time than Valkyrie.
Last year there as no attempt to wrest
the cup from our hands, but Vigilant
crossed the ocean to have a few bouts
with Nalkyrie and Britannia. The unfor-
tunate sinking of the former yacht at
the beginning o. these contests removed
all chance OF satisfying British yachts
men as To the comparative merits of he
two vessels. But Britannia and Viiglant
sailed IL friendly races under circum-
stances so peculiar In many OF the events
as to leave admirers of each vessel some
what In doubt what the result would be
II the ordinary number of trials were
made In average weather off Sandy Hook.
Though Vigilant led repeatedly, and by a
handsome margin In most Of the first
seven races, yet BRITAIN Ia was the first
1o cross sIthe line and scored all unbroken
list of victories. The eighth race was
not sailed to a finish by Britannia,
Nlgilant alone crossing the line. OF the
remaining nine races, Vigilant secured
only four. The average time by which
the American yacht defeated her rival
was considerably more than that made by
her opponent, and il we credit the
Vigilant with only the same space Of
time as was gained by Britannia in her
most decisive victory, as the proper
margin for the unfinished race which
certainly seems fair enough-it is found
that the sum OF the English yachts
victories is only 8 minutes, Al seconds
greater for II races than was the Amer
lean yachts for five. This gives Britain |
MAS average time in each of the IL races |
as only trife over 80 seconds less than |
Vigilant's. Or, to make the comparison |
similar to showing above quoted in the |
international races, the Britannia sailed |
every mile of the total number in five
eighths Of second less time than the |
Vigilant But IL the victory credited to |
the American yacht in the eight tn race is
made the same as her average in the |
Q other trials that she won, it is seen that
Britannias g average per mile is increased
to only LII seconds.
In these IL events, the greatest average
number OF miles per hour made by
britannia, in any race she won, was
AZ. The highest average miles per
hour made by Vigilant in any race taken
from Britannia was II. 62.
Valkyrie LII Is said to be 30 to 80 Sec
Onds per mile faster than Britannia. |
Defender has shown an average of about
10 seconds faster than Vigilant. As
Britannia and Vigilant sailed their total
)f $50 miles at practically same speed. il
IS argued that Valkyrle III is nearly one
half minute per mile faster than De-
ender. Now, IL the parties claiming
his advantage in speed for their yacht
have any good foundation for the
opinions SO far advanced. why are
he hackers OF the challenging Yacht
demanding such odds as $50 in every
800 in their favor from champions OF
he Defender?