The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-15

Haff was In charge, and after spending
two hours making preparations for a sail
waited for the Vigilant to put in her up
psaranoe. Just before II O'Clock the latter
was aeen coming down the bay. Captain
Haff at once gave orders to get under way
and lay to, waiting for the vigilant. As
she approached the Defenders crew
hoisted club topsail. The Vigilant did
che same, and both boats headed seeward,
che Defender in the lead. Tho iatter's
sails fitted perfectly. Her club topsail
was much larger than the vigilant's and
gave her a decided advantage.
A large feet of yachts, under steam and
sail, including Mr.. Vanderbilts Valiant
with her owner and Q small party on
board, and Mr.. Morgan's Shearwater,
bearing Mr.. Morgan and number OF
friends, started to follow the race. Mr..
g. o. Iselin was on board the Defender,
and Mr.. willard. Of New York, was
aboard the Vigilant. Only the steam
yachts followed the boats the whole way.
Soon after II o'clock the boats were
sighted OF Castle Hill, their sails taking
q good breeze which came from the north
west, and which was sending them both
along at lively ratio, The spinnaker
booms were then run out to starboard on
both yachts. The vigilant broke her
&or her to come up.
At1I:l6, when both yachts wore half
smile north Of Beavertail Light, tho De-
fender broke her spinnalscr and both
started on an even line, heading south
by east. During the next few minutes
che Defender had considerable trouble
with her spinnaker and 10 was taken in
three times before ID fell properly. On
shis account she lost ground. The Vigi.
1ant's spinnaker was much larger, but it
did not draw as, we'll as the Defenders
after IL was adjusted.
At noon the Vigilant hauled In closer to
tho other yacht and 1t was seen that the
Defender was trife ahead At 1900 p.
~, after having run eight miles In fifty
one minutes, the Vigllant took in her
spinnaker and headed toward the Nara
gansett shore. The Defender Immediately
followed When they came about the
Vigiiant was two lengths ahead, with the
wind on the beam. The Defender at once
began to crawl ahead from leeward, soon
opening space of two lengths between
her and the Gould boat.
In fow minutes moro tho distance was
doubled Both boats were then carrying
balloon jibs. At 1920 tho Defender came
about and set her jb and skysail, and
hauled down tho balloon lib. The baby
jib topsail was also set. Tho Vigilant
came about seven Minutes lator and set
She same sails Her jib topsail was nearly
twice the size of the Defenders Both
boats pointed well, but the Defender
showed marked superiority In this respect
as we'll as In speed. AT 1913 they came
about on the port back, the Defender far
mead and well up to the windward. The
litter came about and pulled away in
eighteen seconds. Both continued on the
same leg until after o'clock, when a
sQuall was seen coming from the south
ward.
The Vigilant's commander at once came
about, took in her headsails and she was
taken In tow by her tender. The latter
headed for New London. With the squall
came shift of wind from the south
The Defender took In her club top
sail and set her working topsail oamo
about and put to sea, in u twelve knot
breeze.
In order to show Messrs. Morgan and
Vanderbilt what she could do, after max
ipg long reach, she headed for Point
Judith, which the Vigilant was abou
rounding In tow Of the tender. Tho Wig
ilant was soon overhAuled, and, appar
emily anxious for another brush, the lat
ter again got under sail. But after
short trial, In which she was agair
beaten, the Vigilant gave up the raoe anC
the Defender returned to Newport
The crew Of the Defender speak In higl
terms Of hor behavior and all those VIII,
saw the yacht yesterday express conf
dence In her ability TO beat anything II
her class.