The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-20
Trial Race Of the New Bristol Boat
Off Scotland Lightship.
She Seems to Be More Than a Match for the Famous
VigiIant in Light Breeze.
Will Probably Not be Satisfactory Not Strong
Enough for the Purpose.

NEW YORK, July 20 Though in their
ultimate effect, the yacht races off these
shores today is only tentative SO far as
the choice of a national defender goes,
the fact remains that practically the de-
tense OF the Americas cup begins today
with the starting gun from of the light
ship. The public interest, while alive TO
the relative importance of today's event,
has not yet acquired the keen edge of ex-
element which will probably grow from
day to day onward to the final races.
The morning broke today with an In
dian summer haze in the air, and with
slight wind moving straight off the ocean
from the southwest. TO yachtsmen the
outlook was not dispiriting, because they
Will appreciate the possibilities of weather
changes between day break ana IL O'Clock,
which was the hour fixed for the start of
the racing today. Down at Sandy Hook
the ola defender of the cup, Vigilant, was
at anchor. Alongside her was the tender
Aeronaut. Close astern lay the steam
yacht Alma and several small sailing craft.
In the sail down the harbor last night,
the Nigilant's spinnaker boom was i'm
paired in some degree or was considered
too weak, and during the early morning
1t was adjuste0~ at the machine shop OF
the ordnance department at Sandy Hook.
At O'Clock this morning, looking out
from Sandy Hook, the ocean was per-
fectly smooth, the weather extremely
hazy and difficulty was had in discern
ment beyond Scotland lightship. There
was not the slightest swell on the water,
even though there was an unusual drift
Il air from southwark which was travel
ing six miles per hour.
The weatherwise of the coast at that
hour deemed it likely that this breeze
would increase.
Whatever the weather conditions might
be preparations for the contest went on
as per previously arranged order. Thus
il was that the tug scandinavian passed
out OF the Hook at $3.50 this morning and
headed southwark. She had upon her
deck an anchor and buoy, and 1t was
clear to the observers ashore that this
tug was sailing outside to a position
where she should act as a turning boat or
where she would deposit the buoy to act
as the turning stake. Meantime early on
the Nigilant, manager Willard and his
crew were astir adjusting the boom
which through the night and early morn
ing had been ashore at the ordnance
station on the Hook.
There was early activity down at Bay
Ridge, where the Atlantic Club house is
located and off which the Defender lay
last night. At 7:45 this morning the big
ocean tug Luckenbach steamed close in
by the Defender and letting out a line
took the white mystery in tow. On
board and astir were &. Oliver lselin,
Woodbury. Kane, Newbury Thorn,
Latham Fish and Herbert Leeds. These
are the only amateur sailors who will be
aboard today and assist in the sailing of
the yacht
GETTING READY FOR THE START.
HIGHLANDS OF THE NAvEsINK, July
20, a. m.-The lightest possible air Is
blowing from the southwestward, while
over the sea hangs a thick mist that