The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-08-31
DEFENDER CHOSEN.
Announced as Americas Representa-
tive in international Race.
Yesterdays Race Proved Her Splendid
Heavy Weather Roat-The valkyrie
Did Not show Up Well in Sea.

| DID MOI SNOW OP w Cl III y Seas
New York, August 80 The third trial
race between the yachts Defender and
Vigilant took place today, and the De-
fender won by five minutes and twelve
seconds elapsed time over twenty mile
course. A rattling breeze and rough
sea made the test of abilities of the new
boat one of the best that has been afford
ed. She removed all doubts as to her
ability to go through head sea in a
blow, and she established record as a
weather boat and her heavier mast ..an
stouter rig did good service. The keel
boatfoutpointed the centreboarder and,out-
footed her in the windward work. She
showed herself sitter in a breeze and
easier in getting through rough water.
She made less fuss and left clean wake.
After the race the following announce
ment was made by the cup committee:
s'The Americas S cup committee have Sc
lected the yacht Defender of the New
York Yacht club to race against Val
kyrie Ill, in the contest for the Ameri-
"A. G. CANFIELD, Secretary"
The fleet of boats was the smallest
that has followed the trial races in years.
owing to the late hour yesterday at
which the committee decided to hold the
race today. Mr.. and Mrs. Iseli We're
among those on board the Defender.
The tug Luckeback, with the regatta
committee and the cup committee on
board arrived outside the lightship at
10 As a. IN. Z and signalled that the start
would be from the Scotland lighship and
the course No. /, OF ten miles to
windward ana return. Course directions
were east by south or right into the eyes
of the wind. The outer mark was i, OF
Far Rockaway and well out to sea. The
yachts had plenty of room to Jockey or
positions at the start. Tho official time
over the line was, Defender II. 1908;
Vigilant, 11.10.18 l'he Defender had
smaller club topsaii aloft than the Vigi-
liant, but with less! canvas she was too
much for the Vigilsnt. The latter en-
deayored to steal the Defenders wind by
crossing close.to the committees boat END
OF. the line and Iuffing as..she went away,
but the new boat was going too fast and
the Vigilant found herself doomed to an
other stern. chase The Defender never
showed to better advantage than today.
She was in the pink of perfection, and
we'll handled, although not pushed to
her best, as no jib topsail was carried
The Defender rode the waves beautifully
in sixteen. knot breeze, wetting her
decks with spray, but not dashing the
waves ort rronsfsS bow and plunging
and pounding as did the Vigilant. The
two yachts held the starbord tack for
four minutes after the start, and when
they went about together at II. IA, the
Defender had four lengths to the good
On the tack in toward the Jersey share
the Defender doubled the gap. At
JnI1 fho nofandnr thrlp-
quarters of mile ahead The Defender
went on the port tack at II. OF and the
Vigilant at 1903. just after the start
Lord Dunrvaen's Valkyrie was seen tack
ing out from the Hook. She had up her
mainsail, working topsail, jib and stay
sail. She stood up we'll in the fresh
breeze and bowled along at good gait,
but poked her long nose in to the pillows
in a way that neither of the Yankee
boats did She carried much smaller
topsail than the others and no jib top
sail, and yet she heeled over more than
did the Vlgilant with both club topsall
and lib topssil. She did not reach the
lightship until the racers were nearing
the outer mark ten miles away. At 1877
the Defender, well out toward the turn
went on the starboard tack for three
minutes, while the Vigilant hung on
to the port tack.
The Defender made series of short
tacks and jibed about the mark at
12. AZ. %. The Vigilant rounded at
IL. $500. The wind dropped in the run
home while the yachts slipped through
the water at a good pace there was less
life than in the earlier part of the race.
The Vigilant held her rival down the
wind and one or two puffs of wind aided
her and she managed to make slight
gain. When two miles off the finish the
Valkyr1e which had been beating out to
meet the racers, eased off and ran home
ahead of them, waiting near the line to
see the finish. The Defender swept
down to the line in fine style and every
American who saw her felt proud of
her. The official finish was, Defender,
3. OF. 18; Vigilant, 2.07. 40. Elapsed time,
Defender, 252. 10; Vigilant, 2.57.22
There was chorus of whistles from the
tugs. and the Defender sailed up the bay
to an anchorage off Bay Ridge. Tomor-,
row the Defender will ship her new steel
boom and probably take a spin down the
bay. Mr.. Iselin intends sailing her in
the lower bay, and off Sandy Hook every
available day between this and Saturday,
September Z, the day for the first inter-
national race.
New Wheels Will Be Tried.