The Portland daily press., 1895-07-15
A SCRAP At LAST.
The Defender and VigiIant Came 10.
gether Yesterday.
NEW BOAT OUTFOOTED AND OUT
POINTED yIIGLANT.

Her Yankee Crew Proved Their Superiority
Over Foreigners Also-The Defender Is
Fast in Light Air Yesterdays Test
Most Satisfactory.
| Newport, r. l., July 1.-THE long
looked for contest between the big sloops
came off today, the Defender defeating
the Vigilant on her own ground with
light air and calm seas. The Defender
outsailed her opponent in almost every
particular, and but once did the Vigilant
show any superiority-in running-but
this was to be expected of centreboard
craft when competing with keel. SO
positively was the Defender showing
better work that Mr.. Willard when he
saw squall coming up in the south,
wore ship and lay to while the head and
top sails were taken in and the tender
Aeronaut sent aboard towing line and
headed for the south. Mr. Willard said
last night that New York would be his
destination after this trial. The forenoon
had well passed when the two contestants
got up sail and after taking few tacks
about the outer harbor, started down the
channel. The breeze was blowing about
ten miles an hour from the northwest
the sea was almost flat and the northern
skies were filled with wind clouds. The
start was from off Castle Hill. Both
craft rugged out spinnaker booms and it
was H. 10 when the Vigilant broke Qua
her spinnaker, followed by the Defender.
Five minutes later, when the Vigilant
had caught up with her, both set their
balloon topsails. The course was South
Southeast and the Defender at first ap-
peared to forge slowly ahead, but there
was some difficulty with her spinnaker
and it was taken in directly land was out
again. The course was now north by
west. Both boats We're in perfect trim
and the two boats ran off shore, the Vigi-
liant making slightly the better time the
estimated speed being about seven miles
an hour. At 12. 8.the,,Vigilant took in
her spinnal6er, followed sharply by the
Defender, whose crew We're called the
fore the Vigilant's s boom was in. Sheets
were trimmed aft and the two boats laid
off on the starboard tack, thoir course be-
ing west by north. In coming about the
Defender had the advantage of about two
lengths and as the two boats settled
lead to some quarter OF mile. At IL. "a
the Defender broke out her jib and stay
sail to windward and took in the balloon
| jib. At 12 2S the Defender broke out her
baby jib topsail and came about, head
| ing northeast The Vigilant followed
and naturally had a better position The
Defender pinched across the Vigilant's
bow and then eased off readily drawing
out good opening Capt. Half was at
| the Defenders wheel and Capt. Barr was
sailing the Vigilant. AS the Defender
drew ahead of the Vigilant the latter
was forced to take the formers back
| wind, so she tackled ship aud laid her
course and as splitting tacks could not be
| attempted if comparison of the two boats
were to be made, Capt. Haff gave his
command and fifteen seconds was con-
sumed in coming about For about TWEEN
| ty minutes the two craft stood along and
so could be easily compared. The. DE
| fender was:readilyloutfootin and outpoint
| ing her competitor 1t was /. os when the
| Vigilant threw up the contest. Down
| by Point Judith the Defender was hard
on to the Vigiiant, when the latter
| dropped the tug and started to let out for
her self, but apparently decided she had
enough and would not be drawn into an
other contest She then plodded on to-
| ward New London. The Defender was
| loath to give up and clung on until out
| of sight. The last seen of the Vigilant
she showed an indisposition to further en-
gage in scrapping. About O'Clock the
Defender returned and anchored back of
the station. The Defender is not yet
turned over to the syndicate There is
yet considerable work to be done on her,
SO she will return to Bristol.
| The test today was sufficient to prove
the Defenders qualities for light wealth
er. The Vigilant carried a much larger
| jib topsail than the Defender, which Is n
possible cause for her failure to point
up as finely as might be desired. The
| Defender will undoubtedly be ready to
meet the Vigilant off New York Satur-
day next when a heavier wind will prob
ably bring out her good qualities. As
to the work of foreign and Yankee crews
today's work showed the superiority of
the latter They worked quicker and with
more vim, though the former well knew
| they were being tried as we'll as the
boats. Today's trial was composed of
short tacks and were not sufficint to give
the Defender any great leads, though on
an actual course she would have shown
| herself some minutes better.
| Entirely Satisfactory.
| New York, July 14-Mr. Islin said to-
night that the Defender was entirely
satisfactory to the syndicate, and she will
sail outside tomorrow and go to Bristol
in the afternoon, where the finishing
touches will be put on Tuesday.
TWO WERE DROWNED.