Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-23
ALL DOUBT REMOVED
7he Defender Wins Again from the
Older Yacht, Ylsilant.
CENTREBOARD
IDEA.
NJ One Time II Looked ms III IT
Would lie Nindirated-Tbe New
Champion, However, Outsai1s Her
Rival I'm Every Way.


was dlspelled to-day. The new aspirant
for the international championship ran
away from the old champion on every leg,
ana defeated her handiy over the @-mile
.ourse by minutes and II seconds. The
,iIicial time was:
The start-Defcnder, IL $3.50.
VIgiIant. II .2G1
First mark-Defcnder, l2:51:Ol.
Nigllant, i2190S.
Defenders gain on first leg was 1 min
ate and 50 seconds.
Second mark-Defender. 2:501i.
Vigllant. 257O.
Defenders gain on first leg was / min
ute and 90 seconds.
Flnish-Defeuder. $500.
Vigilant. 3:54:lS.
Defenders gain on last leg, minutes,
' seconds.
Elapsed tlme-Defender. 1890.
Nigilant. 4:2S37.
Difference OF time I'm favor Of Defender,
} minutes. Il seconds.
The race was over a triangular course
with ten miles 10 a leg.
The start and finish were at Scotland
ught-ship.
THE SAILING.
The first side Of the triangle was a
broad reach halfway, with the wind light
from west-southwest, and a slight change
IN the wind made IL run free with spin
makers the rest Of the way.
The second side of the triangle was
started as a close reach but a second
change in the wind made II a beat to
Windward. This change happened TO come
"a "A time when IL rave the Defender the
most advantage.
The last side Of the triangle was reach
with wind a-beam. The Defender made
gains. and the net result of the race was a
handsome victory for the new boat.
The wind died down to a faint zephyr
Ind the Vigilant crept up TO her rival.
remained by her side a few minutes. and
then inch by inch moved ahead. There
were yachtsmen on the club steamers
who said that the American institution
the centre -board-was about TO be vindi-
Gated. But the Nigilant did not show
more than half her length before her
rivals bow.
The wind freshened a trine, and the
peerless new boat made wonderful
response. Like a thing of life she glided
forward. parting the waters clearly, and
leaving scarcely a speck Of foam in her
wake. She walked past the Vigilant
and continued TO leave her during the
rest Of the run-in the close reach, the
beating 10 windward and the reach home.
In all points OF sailing the new boat de-
monstrated her ability to defeat the Vigil
lant in the light air which prevailed of
sandy Hook.
STORY IN DETAIL.
In the morning. a couple Of hours be-
fore the race. the sky was overcast on
)yery hand. and most of those who went
Down the bay on the club-boat and ex-
sursion steamers provided themselves
NTH umbrellas. In spite of the cloudi-
tess. however. il was clearer on the sur
lace Of the water than 1t had been on
Saturday. There was no haze to restrict
Inc spectators horizon. In the upper bay
there was hardly a breath Of wind, and
There were many who predicted that the
race would be a drifting match. AS the
steamers and yachts began TO gather
about the Scotland light-ship, from which
the start was to be made, there was still
little prospect of a breeze. The clouds were
almost continuous overhead but now and
hen a faint CLINT on the water gave the
promise of sunshine TO come.
The two contestants were of Sandy
Hook soon after 10 O'clock with sails
hoisted. watching for signals from the
Judges boat Sylvia TO show how the
rourse would lie. The Sylvia had come TO
anchor near the Scotland llght-ship. and
that indicated that the start would be
made from there, and not from the Sandy
Hook light-ship. A little latter she ran
up three flags. signalling that the first
Log OF the triangular course would be
southeast, one-half east the second west
southwest, and the third north, one-half
east.
The wind. which was still very light,
was blowing from west-southwest. The
yachts were going through their PAGES
near the light-ship. affording the specta-
tors an excellent chance 10 compare them.
The change In the Defenders tOp-sail.
which was shortened about two feet on
Sunday, made her resemblance 10 the
Vlgilant more striking than ever. The
yigilant was carrying all plainsail, with
her balloon jib-toP sail in stops. The
Defender had out the same canvas, except
hat her jib was also In stops.
THE START.
At HIS the preparatory gun was fired
from the Sylvia. and the two racers tackled
md made for position. AT II: 25 the second
gun was sounded notifying the yachts
that they had two minutes in which 70
cross the line. As on Saturday, the De-
fender was the first over, and was fol-
lowed by the Vigilant 81 seconds later.
The start nearly resulted in disaster
The Vigilant was standing for the line a
few seconds before the startng-gun was
doomed. She broke out her balloon jill
top-sail. and was racing for the line at q
rate which would take her across ahead
Of the gun. The Defender was pointing
tiagonally toward the line, with the wind
on her starboard bow. Had both held their
course there would have been a collision
The Defender had the right of way
and held on. forcing the Vigllant TO round
sp in the wind. and narrowly miss hitting
he Scotland light-ship. The Nigilina dis
played a protest flag as result OF this
hanoeuyre. The Defender swung across
he line 80 seconds after gun-iire. Inc
yigilant was 81 seconds later.
The wind was west-northwest, and II
was a broad reach. with b0oms to port al
frst. There was barely enough wind 70
I'M the sails. The sails of the Vigilan'
seemed 10 set better than those OF the
Defender The latter had her lead OF
about three cable lengths until the wind
died down 10 almost nothing, when the
Nigilaflt slowly. but surely began TO ereeI
up on her. Then the wind canted a
triae and at IL 40 the Vigilant broke out
her big splnnaker. The Defender followed
suit one minute later. Both retained
their bailoon-jib top-salls. and the vigiian'
used a larger jib than the Defender
CENTRE-BOARD ADVANTAGE
The centre-board showed the advantage
OF her type by cutting down the lead OF
the Defender until at 1855 both boats
were side by side. Yachtsmen held then
breath. while the champion OF 1898 and tbs
type OF 1896 raced Ike twin sloops hello
together by an invisible link