The Portland daily press., 1895-07-23

THE START.
Defender, 11.25. 80
Vigilant, 11.2601
FIRST MARK.
Defender, 12.5701
Vigilant, r. So OF
Defenders gain on the first leg, I'm.
Sc secs.
SECOND MARK.
Defender, ,25011
Vigilant, 2.5750
Defenders gain on the second leg ON.
80 secs.
FINISH.
Defender, 345O0
Vigilant, 3.54.4S.
Defenders gain on the last leg, IN. 9
ELAPSED TIME
Defender, 41930
Vigilant, 4.2S.47.
The difference in time in favor of the
Defender. 9 m. II Secs
The race was over a triangular course
with ten miles to leg.
The start and finish was at Scotland
light ship. The first side of the triangle
was q broad reach half way with the
wind light from the west southwest,
and slight change in the wind made it
run free with spinnakers the rest of the
way. The second side of the triangle
was started as close reach, and second
change in the wind made it beat to the
| windWard
This change happened to come at
time when it gave the Defender the
most advantage. The last side of the
triangle was a reach with the wind
Tho lnfa 10 inc 4ho
not result of which was a handsome vic
tory for the new boat.
The Vigilant sailed a beautiful race
and only for few moments did she ap-
pear to have any kind of a chance with
tho keel boat. 1t was when the wind
which was light at the start, died down
to faint zephyr that the centre-b -boarder
| crept up on her rival and remained by
her side few momens, and then inch
| by inch she moved away There were
| yachtsmen and clubmen who said the
centre board was about to be vindicated
and the keel as the type placed in the
rear, but the Vigilant did not show more
than a half length before her rivals
| bow when the wind freshened a trife
and the new boat made a wonderful re-
sponse. Like a thing of life she glided
forward and leaving scarcely speck of
foam in her wake she walked past the
| Vigilant and continued to leave her dur
| ing the rest of the run.
| In the close reach. the beating to wind
ward and in the reach home. in all points
| of sailing, tho new boat demonstrated
her ability to defeat the Vigilant in the
| light air which prevailed off Sandy Hook.
| The first leg of the triangular course
was southeast one-half east. AT the start
the wind, which was very light, was
| blowing from the west southwest.
THE START.
At II. Is the preparatory gun was fired
and the two racers manoevured for posit-
ion for the next ten minutes At II. 25 the
second gun sounded, notifying the
yachts they had two minutes in which to
cross the line
The start nearly resulted in disaster.
The Vigilant, a few seconds before the
starting gun doomed, broke out her bal
loon jibtopsail, and was racing for the
line at rate which would take her
across ahead of the gun. The Defen-
der was pointing diagonally toward the
line with the Vigilant on her starboard
bow. Had both held their course there
would have been collision. The Defen-
forcing the Vigilant to round up in the
wind and narrowly miss hitting the Scot
land light ship. The Vigilant thereupon
displayed protest flag. The Defender
swung across the line first, 80 seconds
after the gun was fired. The Vigilant
out balloon jibtopsail Immediately af-
ter crossing the line. The wind was
northwest and it was broad reach with
booms to port at first There was barely
enough wind to fill the sails, but the
sails of the Vigilant seemed to set better
than the Defenders. The latter held a
lead of about three cable lengths until
the wind died down.to almost nothing,
when the Vigilant slowly, but surely, be-
gan to creep upon her. Then the wind
canted trifle and at II. 40 the Vigilant
broke out her big spinnaker. The De-
fender followed suit a minute later, and
both retained balloon jibtopsails. The
Vigilant used larger jib than the De-
fender The centre -boarder cut down the
lead of the Defender until at II. 55 both
boats were side by side.
THE VIGILANT AHEAD.
| At 70 o'clock the Vigilant began to
creep ahead inch by inch until the
mast was even with the Defenders lib
boom. With the centre board pulled UP
the Vigilant slipped ahead while the
Defenders keel held her back. The
wind soon shifted trifle SO the spinnak-
ers were detriment, and they were
taken in. Then the wind freshened a
!, trifie and the. Defender. walked up on the
Vigilant and regained lead and showed
the lead to the first turn.
, At 12 so just as she was approaching
the first turn, the Defender broke out
her jib and took in the balloon jibtopsail.
{ A few minutes after the Vigilant made
, the same change. At 12. 81. Oh the Defen
der swept around the flag, breaking out
her No 3 jibtopsail as she did So Two
) minutes and seven seconds laterssthe Wig
liant made the turn. She also broke
/ out her No topsail and the two yacht,
| started on a close reach with booms tt
port. The scene was one of great activity
< The crews seemed to work quickly ant
with great precision, and their excellen
5 discipline was very evident. The breezt
/ had 'freshened and both boats heeled ovel
somewhat The Defender pointed higher