The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-04
WENT WITH a NEW GAFF
Easily the Swift Craft Sailed
Away From the Big
Fleet
AND LED TO VINEYARD HAVEN.
The Once Great VlgiIant Beaten In
a Stiff Breeze by Nine
Minutes.

VINEYARD HAVEN, MASS, Aug. g.
Bright and early this morning the yachts
men were astir on the boats of the New
Yacht Club at anchor in Newport harbor.
Clear skies overhead and gentle south
westerly breeze betokened another fine day
for the cruise of the feet. The days pro-
gramme called for a run to Vineyard
Haven. thirty-seven miles to the eastward.
A number of the smaller-sailed yachts and
some Of the steam yachts moved out of the
harbor and were we'll on their way toward
Marthas Vineyard before the big ones
started.
The Defender at sunrise had arrived in
tow from Bristol, her gaff having been re-
placed at the Herreshoff yards last night
by new one. The Vigilant was ready for
another brush with the new boat, and she
had a new Herreshoff club topsail aloft in
place of the one she had used all the week.
No other changes were noticeable. The
Volunteer also was on hand.
At $40 AN. the flagship Sylvia left her
anchorage and steamed down to Brentons
Reef lightship. At 10 o'clock there was
large fleet in the vicinity of the old
gray hill that lies at the entrance to New
port Harbor. The Defender, Vigilant and
Volunteer, with club topsails up. were
cruising, waiting for the signal to be off.
There were also half a dozen smaller
sloops and dozens of schooners with racing
pennants flying in the breeze which was
gaining strength every minute. The
course to-day was seventeen and half
miles east-southeast to Vineyard Sound
light, and twenty miles east-northeast up
the sound TO Vineyard Haven. The wind
was south southwest, making the first
seventeen miles a reach with the wind
abeam, and booms to port. The rest of the
race was a broad reach.
The preparatory gun sounded at 1890.
atTS S-s lztFs the sE1a!ter ssloops and
cntters started. The Queen Nab was first
10 slipoyer the line. Then came the Hide
gard Wasp, Nearear, Katrina and Netera.
All were on the starboard tack and had
gaff topsaiis up. The Queen Nab used
large No. jib topsail and the others used
No. 2, the smaller sail. At 10 As the gun
for schooners sounded and the feet-footed
Lasca led the way over the line. The
order of the others were: Ramona, Emer-
ald Constellation, Ariel, Amorlta, Loyal,
Merlin, AIcea, Mayfiower and Marguerite.
The last named was handicapped. The
The Others were satisfied with small stay
sails and No. 1 iib topsails. Ten minutes
after the start the Ramona took in her
balloon, as the wind was little too fresh.
At $50 the gun for the first-class sloops
doomed, and the Defender was off almost
on the instant The Vigilant was two
minutes later and was very near being
handicapped. The Volunteer did not
cross for nearly minute after the second
boat The Defender and Volunteer car
ried No. 2 iib topsails. The Vigilant
started with a big No. topsail but
changed it to a No. 2, as the wind was
freshening and she was heeling consider
ably. The big sloops rushed through the
water with their lee rail awash, and gained
rapidly on the schooners from the start
In half an hour the Defender began pick
ing them up one by one and dropping
them astern. The Vigilant followed suit
but not at so lively pace as the Defender.
The new boat was easily outfooting the
VigiIant, and the old Volunteer could not
hold up with her competitors.
The Queen Nab held the lead of the
small single-stickers and the Lasca that of
the schooners.
lDe NlllO was DION14lS lIOlH Ih0 SeSI dI d
fifteen-knot gait and at II o'clock both the
Defender and Vigilant took in their No. 2
lib topsails and set baby jib topsails.
The order OF the fleet passing Vineyard
Haven light was: Defender, Lasca, Vigi-
Iant. Emerald Constellation, Amorita,
Alcea, Queen Nab, Katrina. Volunteer,
MayAower, Ariel, Hildegard, Ramona,
Marguerite, Nearer Loyal.
Turning the lightship the run up Vine
yard Sound was broad reach with booms
to port. The tide was ebb and against the
racers. The Volunteer and the smaller
schooners hugged to shore from Cuttyhunk
up to get the advantage of the slack water,
but the majority of the feet kept the
middle of the sound. The Defender in
creased her lead over the Vigilant until
she was nine minutes ahead. AT 2 O'Clock
she showed the way for the feet into
Vineyard Fleet.
Following is the table: