The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-07-15
GOOD WORK BY DEFENDER
DEFEATED VIGILANT ON HER OWN
GROUND IN CALM SEAS.

Up the Contest-Both Yachts to u. eet y N
New York Next Saturday When Heavy
Weather Is Expected.
Newport, r. l., July lathe longed
looked for contest between the big
sloops came off to-day, Defender defeat
ing Vigilant on her own ground with
light air and calm seas. Defender out
sailed her opponent in almost every
particular. But once did Vigilant show
any superiority--in running-but this
was to be expected of a centerboard
craft when competing with a keel. So
positively was Defender showing better
work that Mr.. Willard, when he saw
squall coming up in the south wore
ship and lay-to, while head and top
sails We're taken in.
The tender Aeronaut sent aboard a
towing line and headed for the south.
Mr.. Willard said last night that New
York would be his destination after
this trial. Defender, Vigilant and Col
onia came down the bay from Bristol
under tow early in the morning. The
forenoon had we'll passed when the
two contestants got up sail and after
taking few tacks about the outer
harbor started down the channel. Nu-
merous yachts and catboats had al
ready preceded them and by Ii o'clock
when both were ready to start the scene
between Castle Hill and Old Fort
Dumplings was lively. The breeze was
blowing but ten miles from northwest,
the sea was almost flat and the north
ern skies were, filled with wind clouds,
yet fair wind race was predicted as
there was every appearance of a south
erly breeze In the afternoon.
The start was from off Castle Hill.
Both craft rugged out spinnaker booms
--Vigilant first on the starboard quar-
ter. 1t was 11.10 when Viglant broke
out her spinnaker, followed by Defender
five minutes later, when Vigilant had
caught up with her. Both also set
balloon topsails and the race was un-
dey way. The course was S. S. E., De-
tenders spinnaker dropping over into
the water in setting. But it was set
better than that of Vigilant in the light
breeze, the latter's bagging terribly and
drawing poorly.
Defender at first appeared to forge
slowly ahead, but there was some
difficulty with her spinnalSer and it
was taken in directly and was out
again. The course was now south by
west There were no foul bottoms and
both boats were in perfect trim. The
two boats ran offs shore, Vigilant making
slightly better time, the estimated
speed being about seven miles an hour
AT 1908 Vigilant took in her spinnaker,
followed sharply by Defender, whose
crew worked quicker and had the jib
in stops before Vigilant's boom was in.
Sheets were trimmed aft and the two
boats laid off on the starboard tack,
their course being west by north. In
coming about Defender had the ad-
vantage of about two lengths, but as
the two boats settled down to work she
readily increased her lead to some quar-
ter of a mile At 1924 Defender broke
out the jib and staysail to windward
and took in balloon jib. Vigilant was
slow in following this example and
made a bungling mess Of taking in
lib topsail.
At 1928 Defender broke out baby
lib topsaiI and came about heading
northeast vigilant followed and nat
urally had the better position. De-
fender was down to lee and did a hand
some piece of work trimming down sheet.
She pinched across Vigilant's bow then
when she eased off readily, drew out
a good opening. Captain Haff was at
Defenders wheel with Is trained eye
constantly upon the mountain of cam
vas towering above. Captain, Barr was
sailing Vigilant. As Defender drew
ahead of vigilant the latter was forced
to take the formers backwind, SO she
tackled ship. Now for about twenty
minutes the two craft stood along so
that Defender and her opponent could
be easily compared. The former was
readily out-footing and outpointing her
competitor.
1t was 1o8 when Vigilant threw up
the contest. She spilled the wind in her
sails and was soon after picked up by
her tender Defender headed in-shore
and lowered her club topsail. Prepara-
tions were made to set her working top
sail 1t had been hoisted aloft when a
spanking breeze came in from the south
ward.
The topsail was lowered and the work
of lowering the club topsail begun, the
ship being put about at the same time
and headed for Vigilant, which was
disappearing under tow. When down
by Point Judith Defender was hard on
to Vigilant, when the latter dropped her
tug and started to let out for herself,
but apparently decided that she had had
enough and would not be drawn into an
other contest. She then plodded on to-
ward New London, Conn, as was her
previous intention. Defender was loath
to give up and clung on until out OF
sight. The last seen of Vigilant she
Still showed an indisposition to further
engage in scrapping. About 5 O'Clock
Defender returned and anchored back
of the torpedo station.
About $3.50 Defenders tender, Hattie
Palmer came out of the harbor. She
$ shifted sea air and did not see her her
oine in sight, so she turned tail and
returned to the harbor taking with
her good hot dinner for the crew. De-
fender has not yet been turned over to
the syndicate and there is yet constd-
cradle work to be done on her, so she
will return to Bristol, but the contest is
over, though it was a tame affair.
ripping old breeze, which would have
tested both craft as to their stiffness,
was desired to-day. The test to-day
was sufficient 70 prove Defenders quail
tiles for light weather, which is quite
satisfactory information Vigilant car
ried a much larger jibtopsail than De-
-