The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-22
Defender and vigiIant Having
a Close Race.
New Boat Left vigiant at First, But
the Gap Was Reduced.
The Test VIII BE Unsatisfactory Be-
cause Of Lack of Wind.

NEW YORK, July 22.-The second
| formal and semi-oiiicial contest between
Defender and Vigilant, provoked com.
ment and speculation today among
| yachting experts and others interested in
| the sport as to whether the triangular
| course wo:ld bring out unsuspected
points OF strength in the Vigilant or only
| confirm anew the confidence held by the
| public in the new white boat Defender.
| Since Saturdays sailing each boat has
been readjusting its topsails so that there
| Is another element of possible difference
| between the two boats, aside from the
features OF course and relative strength
| of the wind.
The weather was this morning early
| observed by those anxious To see a piping
breeze for today's sail. At day break there
was an idle, listless stir of the air, which
| argued nothing and proved nothing ex-
| cept its own weakness. There was, how
ever, quality in the atmosphere which
had been so thoroughly washed by last
| nights storm, that gave promise of
better things to the weatherwise before
| the day should be over.
Down at Bay Ridge, the Defender had
lam over night at anchor off the Atlantic
Yacht Clubhouse. There was scarcely
enough air stirring TO wrinkle the water,
but as Mr.. Herbert Leeds came of in the
yachts launch to shore, he expressed the
view that there might be some grand
racing during the day despite the easy
wind OF this morning. The wind was
coming almost from due west when
Defender hove anchor at :27 clock, and
at the end OF hawser towed by the tug
II. 5. Atwood, she began her journey TO
the scene OF today's contest. Already,
the flagship Sylvia, with Commander
Brown abroad, had fired the o'clock
gun, and sailed away from her anchorage
at Bay Ridge. Meantime, away down the
bay, inside Sandy Hook, Nigiiant was
riding at anchor and awaiting the coming
OF the time and the boat which shonld
furnish for her the contest OF the day and
possibly her last trial against the white
MYSTERY from New England.
At Long Branch, which the summer
visitors there felt confident would be
abreast of one flagship in today's trian-
gular race, there was at 5: 80 O'Clock this
morning a feeble breeze cropping out
from the northwest at the rate of about
three miles an hour. 1t covered the
flags at the Branch and went out 10 sea
with not enough power to disturb the
oceans surface. The weatherwise men
at Long Branch, however, felt en-
couraged by indications in the western
sky of better weather as the day pro-
gressed. There was some, haze on the
water, but the air was clearer than on
Saturday.
On the Long Island coast, the condi-
tions of weather and water differed little
from those down the Jersey coast, save
that the slight breeze was little fresher.
1t was hoped and believed at the Rock
away Beach, that one of the stake
boats of the days race might be anchored
near enough abreast to be within easy
view of the people there ashore.
1t would be difficult to conceive OF
more beautiful marine view than was
spread before the gaze of the observer in
the lighthouse here during the early
hours this morning. A strong breeze,
fully 10 knots an hour, was blowing
from west that bore promise of growing
heavier as the day wore on. The surface
OF that triangular expanse of ocean lying
between the New Jersey and Long Island
coasts, which Is the center of interest OF
the entire country today, isssmooth Out
to sea both tho Scotland and Sandy Hook
lightships were clearly seen and through
the slight haze to the northeastward, the
long Sound shore was in plain sight from
the Narrows eastward to Far Rockaway.
HIGHLANDS, n. j., July % Judges
boat signals course to be triangular 10
miles Sc. 1-2 E., then 10 miles, WSW. and
finally 10 miles n. 1-2 east. Both yachts
are preparing for preparatory signal.
Wind WSW. about II miles. 1t is cloudy.
At 1:14:20 a. IN. the preparatory sig
nal was given.
Defender crossed the line at II 1:A:30
and Vigilant at IL :25:10, with wind on
the beam WNW.
After the warning signal from the Syl-
via, both boats maneuvered sharply and
keenly for a position OF advantage when
the gun for the start should be fired.
This signal came at II "a. Defender at
that moment was in the best position and
at 11:24 80 she swept over the starting
line and Nigilant chasing heC~eagerly,
made her formal start at IL :25 no, or about
40 seconds behind the leader.
Just before the two boats went across
the line, they broke out their balloon jib
topsails, Defender seeming nrst TO gain
by this movement, as open water appeared
between her stern and the bowsprit of
Nigilant before the boats were fairly
underway.
excursion and pleasure craft hurried of
with them, keeping well to leeward. De-
fender was seen to be carrying mainsail,
clubtopsail, iib and staysail Vigilant at
the same time was carrying similar sail
The sky was clouded and the wind WIS
WSW, ~ miles an hour. At IL 1888,
Defen der's crew sent up her balloon jib,
and at that time, she was increasing the
distance between herself aud the Vigil
liant. The sails on each boat were draw
ing well; those of the Defender fitted her
more exactly than they did In the race
on Saturday and the pucker in her main
sail which was observable In Saturdays
race, had been smoothed out today.
At IL :3S, as seen from tn
Rockaway Beaches, Defender
was gaining slightly, and at that time
appeared to be leading Nigilant by
minute and about u seconds Forty sec,
onds of this apparent lead are accounted
for by Defenders lead at the starting
line. Five minutes later observers from
the Long Island coast lost the two boats
from view, as they sailed of straight out
into the ocean, southeastward. At 11:45,
the watchers at Long Branch estimated
that both yachts would complete the first
loo, of the race vithout tackfu0. uulosn