The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-08-30

John HKRREsHoFY. NAT HKRREsHoFF.
ing twelve seconds ahead. Both boats
stood we'll of to the southwark, which
gave them beam wind. For q couple OF
miles the breeze continued to blow at the
rate Of seven or eight knots an hour, and
they went ahead fast, the Defender con-
tinually gaining on the vigilant. until,
at the end Of two miles, she had lead Of
over half mile.
At this time Vallxyric who had come
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 the Defender and vigilant had
when they started on their journey, and
carried 1t with her down the course for
two miles, when 1t collapsed. Defender
and vigilant had the breeze desert them
some time before, and they were only
standing still when the English boat
nearly came up on them with a rush that
was occasioned by the breeze which all
had been favored with up to tho north.
ward, but which dropped at point about
two miles to the southwark Of the line.
The Valkyrie was carrying her monster
mainsail and club topsafl, as well as her
jib topsail, which fairly belonged to the
same class of mammoth sails. When VAL
kyrie got down to within three quarters
Of mile Of Vigilant, and was half mile
to leeward and found herself in q practi-
cal calm, she went about in q laboring
way and headed for home. Experts who
watched the English boat said that even
In that very light air and the smoothest
kind Of sea she made a good deal of
commotion from her bows, even more
than Vigilant. Every official on Valkyrie,
from Lord Dunraven down to Ed Young,
AHnxx fI1k tt.Na faA IT,
the action Of Defender than In that Of
their own vessel.
Even In the almost imperceptible breeze
Defender made headway. Vigilant, though
she eased of sheets and tried to gather in
the breeze on her mainsail in that way,
could not pick up on her rival, Tho boats
Jagged along for almost two hours in that
way, Defender continually gaining, Just
before they came to the first mark De-
fender found 1t necessary to make q tack,
by which she lost over half q minute
Vigilant came down for the mark straight
Then began run before the wind for
eight miles, the result Of which not only
enhanced the good opinions of Defenders
adherents, but made them wonder. At
no time have Defender and Vigilant met
in run before the wind before when
Vigilant has not beaten Defender. But
miles In not only better time, but gained
the astounding advantage of two minutes
and thirteen seconds.
After rounding the second mark a big
black squall came out from the south
&C Invest and went for the sails of the
racers. r'he course Of the last leg was
west by south, and the Defender had no
sooner turned the mark than the gale was
upon her. She stood it bravely and there
was no inclination to take In her big club
topsail. Mr.. Iselin, Captain Half and
Nat Herreshoff, all of whom were aboard,
were content to let the people see that
they had a boat which could stand up in
q breeze of wind. The sheet Of her lib
parted under the strength Of the forty
mile wind, and within q minute that sail
was In ribbons. Within three minutes
the fragments had been hauled down and
another new and whole sail set in Its
place.
The last leg was close reach for home.
The Vigilant, which had not beon able to
Withstand the blow, took down her club
topsail soon after rounding tho second
mark, and shortly after withdrew her
baby jib topsail.
The Valkyrie got little piece OF this
squali as she was returning to her berth,
but Captain Cranfield had hauled down
all head sails and the prodigous club top
sails. But IL was said by the sharps who
looked at her from Sandy Hook that, with
only her massive mainsail set, she heeled
over enough to show that she Ia very
tender for one SO big.
Defender went on, fairly boiling through
the water There was good chance for
Defender to make lively kick off from
her bows, but her deck was on the level
and her performance was simply marvel
Gus. In the blow after 1t, 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 between her and vigilant. So 1t can
be seen that, in every point Of sailing,
even the run before the wind with spin.
makers set and In all strength of breeze,
the Defender not only outsailed the Wig.
liant, but beat her almost ridiculously
And yet the Americas cup committee
docs not seem to be satisfied that Defender
is the better boat, for they ordered an.
other trial race for today. Be that as ID
may, the following table will show how
Defender beat Vigilant:
First Second
Start Mark. Mark. Finish.
INNS n. NJ. 8. n. NJ. 8. H.M.s
Defender. .1l:e0:2s R:0li0o 3l6:3O 4:10:Os
Vigilant...-.ll:20;A0 2:0a,l7 B.24:00 4:2S:23
Defender won by 10 min. 8 secs, not
counting time allowance, which has been