The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-07
vIGILANT WITHDRAWS
SHE WILL NEVER AGAIN EN-
TER A RACE WITH THE
DEFENDER.
RACE FOR THE DRExEL CUP.

Defender Beat the VigiIant Seven Min
utes Unofficial Time-A Collision Was
Narrowly Averted and the VigiIant
Had TO Surrender the Right OF Way--
This Unjust Treatment Caused Her
Withdrawal-.Mr. willard Writes a
Letter Fully Explaining.
NEWPORT, r. J., Aug. 6.--In the tri-
angular race to-day for the Drexel cup,
over twentyone mile course, the De
! fender beat the Vigilant seven minutes
unofficial time On the first leg of seven
miles the Defender gained five minutes.
! On the second leg, which was a free
| reach, the Defender increased her lead
| by three minutes twenty seconds, but on
| the run for home the Vigilant picked up
one minute and twenty seconds. The
wind was blowing eleven and twelve
miles an hour all day.
The result of the day only confirmed
the opinion that is unanimously held on
the question of the comparative merits
of the yachts. When the Defender and
Vigilant were jockeying for position to
cross the line the big yachts came pretty
close together at one time. Both were
on the starboard tack, so there was no
question as to who had the right of way
excepting by the rule that the overhaul
ing vessel should yield. In this case,
the Defender was the overhauler, but
the Vigilant, as she did off Sandy Hook,
eased off and avoided what might have
possibly been a collision.
Yachts. Start. Finish. Elapsed time.
Defender ll:25.55. El0:l3 2:44:lS
Nigilant 1856. 2;l7H. 2:j02S
OF the other yachts which raced the
winners We're: Among the schooners,
Emerald, Amorita and Loyal; among the
sloops, Queen Nab and Uvira
Fog prevented the committee from
seeing how the last boats finished. This
evening, while everyone was discussing
the merits of the Defender, aud specu-
lating on how much greater i'm
provement the new boat would show
when she should again meet the Vigil
ant later in the week, Mr.. Willard,
who is George Gould's representative
and manager of the VigilaHt, gave out
letter, which at once shattered the well
laid plans of the yachtsmen and Others
interested in the races. In the letter, Mr..
Willard simply withdrew the Vigilant
from all future races in which the De-
fender might take part. He SAID very
plainly that he felt the Defender had
treated the Vigilant in rowdy fashion
to-day and also on July %, off Sandy
Hook, and he wanted no more to do with
her.
The effect of the letter will be, unless
some sort OF a patching of torn canvas
is done, that the Vigilant will not enter
the trial races arranged for the last of
the month. Here is Mr.. Willards letter
"On board Vigilant, Newport Harbor.
''To the Regatta Committee New York
Y.O.
"Dear Sirs:--I hereby withdraw Vigi-
lant's entries for the races on Thursday
and Saturday. In doing so | desire to
add few words of explanation
GAS you are aware, Mr. Gould and /,
as his representative, fitted out and pre-.
pared Vigilant for racing for no purpose
in the world except to assist in develop
ing the fastest American yacht, and thus
aiding in the defense of Americas Cup.
To this end Mr.. Gould has cheerfully
gone to great expense and l have taken
much pains and spent much time.
cannot, however, consent to continue
racing Vigilant unless the contests are
to be conducted according to the rules
of yachting.
81 have twice given way to Defender
at the start of race when Vigilant
clearly had the right of way, because
was.unwilling to risk a collision which
might leave America without a cup de-
fender. However willing l may have
been to waive my rights in the past, am
not willing to go on waving them inde-
fnitely, and even if ! were, it is quite
possible that situation might be created
in which collision would be inevitable.
"Mr. Gould's sole desire, as well as
my own, is that the cup may be de-
Tended by the fastest American sloop,
which might not be the case if Vigilant
and Defender collided. AS you know
have already protested Defenders action
at the start on July %. I to days race,
Defender again violated the rules and
forced Vigilant out of position to which
she was entitled. In both cases there
would have been collision if the Vigi-
liant had not given way. In each case
the responsibility of avoiding an accident
was cast upon me. 1t would not be fair
either to the yacht or to her owner to
continue racing under those conditions.
Very respectfully yours,
''E. A. WILLARD"
When Mr.. Willard handed this letter
to the members of the press tonight, he
remarked that the Vigilant was still at
the disposal of the Americas Cup COM
mittee to be used for any purpose they
may see fit.