The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-08-01
Defender Again Beats the Vigilant.

Newport, r. l., July 31.-The Defend
err beat the Nigilant today in the run
Of forty4two miles from New London to
this point and beat her so badly that
the lattsrs owners must now admit that
the new boat is better than the old.
How much better cannot be stated as
no reasona BILE cOnpa rison of the cham
pion of 1888 and the Vigiiant of 1895 can
be made. only by the handful of people
who knew about what the Defender Will
give the Nigihant i'm the matter of time
allowance. Concerning this matter an
Associated Press reporter was told to-
day by a yachtsman who is in a posi-
ton to know that the Defender should
allow the Visilant four minutes or
cherealbouts on a forty mile race sucl
as that of today. II this is true the
Defender did all that could be asked of
her, beating the NiSilant by at least
eight minutes.
Just as the start was made. the Nigi-
lant'S main sail was slit but the acct
ident had no appreciable effect on the
result of the race, the tear was near the
foot OF the sail and the yacht was going
with freedom. The wind was abea m
and gave the two men VINO were sent
out on the boom to make the necessary
yacht no difficulty at all They had no
trouble in stopping the hole. sewing on
new canvass and the accident. it is said
by experts, did not initiate against the
Vigilant by more than fifty seconds at
the outside and probably not over twen-
ty seconds.
The weather was in favor of the Vigil
liant all the way through. on leaving
New London it was a more than good
wind \ broad reach with wind abeam
would better describe the direction of
the wind. which was almost due south
west or as II had been for two days. 1t
was brisk. but the big fellows were able
10 carry all sail including club topSails
and the water was smooth enough TO
suit the NSgiiant in her very best days.
From start 10 finish the Defender gain
ed on the Nigilant and came so far
ahead that the doubling Thomases VINO
were asking each other as to the Amer
ica's cup racer: " VIII she do?" are
are now saying al least We'll. she's
the best boat We ever had in" and
confession from these people IS TO be
thought over more rhan once. l means
that the splendid win Of the boat today
shows that she is improving right
along in form.
If the advancement continues al the
ratio displayed between the sail OF yes
terday and today the Nigilant viii be
nowhere tomorrow. 1t was almost a
run with spinnakers today and yet the
Defender gained at every point The
finish showed the new boat 10 be
twelve minutes and two seconds to the
good on actual time
on leaving New London. the yachts
sailed down with a beam wind 70 the
race. The Defender had had her steer
ing gear patched up during the night
and her sailors were smart enough -
get her over the starting line one min
ute and twenty-five seconds ahead Of
the Nigiiant. The Volunteer was pref
~ quick and went away five seconds
after the Nigilant. The Jubilee was
there bat for some reason or other she
did net start with the others and this
fact lsSSenei the interest in the whole
procession as the breeze was blowing
pretty fresh and everybody wanted -
know what General Paines vessel
could do with the champion OF 1898 and
the new in keel yachts
The boats which did start had a good
race. There was a fine breeze which
race rock the fleet found itself going
before the wind and spinnakeTs were
set and that 5 the way they rushed
home - the finish line.
The result Of today'S race shows that
the fight for the cup on the American
side viii b. made either by the Defend
eT or the Nigilant- The Jubilee. by her
refusal 10 start today indicates 70
sane persons that she joas not want 70
so into a race when there is a blow. A
r victory IN such weather cannot be
II great value. for the chances are five
70 one that the cup races VIII be in
light weather. and that i the game The