Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-06
A GRAND RACE
Won by Navahoe Over vigiIant
for the GoeIet Cup.
CAROLS Boat Handled Much Better
than the Old Cup Defender.
One Of the Grandest Finishes Ever Seen in a
Boat Race.

CAROLS yacht Navahoe won the
Goelet cup for sloops, today, by de
feating Percy Chubb's Vigilant in not
only the most interesting race ever
sailed for one of these emblems, but IN
what was probably the finest contest
ever sailed between the big sloops IN
American waters. Colonia took the
schooner cup. but as Emerald, the only
other entry in this class. failed to come
out, Vice Commodore Postley weat
over the course in the most lonesome
manner.
Vigilant led at the start, but Nava-
hoe turned the first mark ahead and
kept her lead until within three miles
of the finish when Vigilant passed her
only rs feet seemed to separate the
boats as they rushed across the line
which was not enough to save Nigilart
the race, and the Navahoe won by
minutes. q seconds, corrected time.
Throughout the race between the
Herreshof boats. it was a question Of
seconds not minutes. and in the end the
better skipper Won. The handling of
Navahoe by Captain Croker was mas
terly. while the grand old cup defender
Of '93 was twisted about in a manner
tiidt dstiipSt uIouSHN ttdfS 10 the eyes
of yachtsmen. First she would be-
pinehed until her head sails fluttered in
the wind. and again sent far off her
course. In the second leg. which wds
beat from Block Island to West
Island Navahoe was given a good rap
full throughout. while Vigilant took a
course that seemed like that of a
drunken sailor. Vigilant lost SECONDS
on this leg and no lufiing on the last
6 miles could make up for such mis-
handling
The course was the old one TO Block
Island with long leg TO West Island
and short reach to the finish. a dis
lance of 81 miles, and the boats made il
in little over four hours. Colonia
took only 10 minutes longer AMI
throughout stood up like a church and
sailing grandly.
The first gun fired at 1910. found both
sloops unprepared. Neither had her
topsails set. while the Navahoe had on
ly her mainsail and jib up. The result
Of this was that when the starting gun
was fired. 10 minutes later, the Vigilant
slipped over the line, having just man.
aged to get up her topsail while her
AVA T" DIS oNtI IL Utliule dSlHIH. SUN
without sufficient sails spread. Nava-
hoe. however, had not gone many yards
from the line, when her working top
sail was sheeted home and Immediately
after her spnnaker blossomed out.
The run to Block island was nearly
dead before the wind and in order to
get a better position, Vigilant crossed
Navahoe's bow and was considerably
to the starboard of her rival before set
ting her spinnaker. In the meantime
the tug Edward Luckenbach was reel
ing off the necessary miles to the first
mark, and about | o clock had dropped
the raft with its red flag, about six
miles north of Block island, northeast
light.
Both boats came down for the mark |
with booms to port and spinnakers to |
starboard. All the way down, Navahoe |
kept pulling down Vigilant's lead and |
both boats. a mile from the first mark. |
appeared nearly even, although run
ming wide apart.
Suddenly those on the tug discovered |
that the raft had capsized. and a |
second one was Immediately placed. but |
as the time was so short it could not |
be put in the same position as the other, |
it was dropped about quarter of a |
mile to the eastward. This favored |
Navahoe and taking in her spinnakcr
and jibbing. she rounded it at 10709
Vigilant. while undoubtedly ahead I
just before this, was 80 seconds behind /
at the mark. She was, however, given |
a good shoot into the wind and then
started after Navahoe. Instead Of |
keeping good rap full, Vigilant's skip
per Immediately began to pinch her.
He topsail carried no wind, and her
staysail did little better With a good |
jump of sea, she rapidly fell astern of
and three miles from the first |
mark. the Carroll boat had good lead,
although somewhat to leeward.
Captain Croker gave Navahoe a
good full and she romped along in fine
style. AS this leg was a long and short
hitch, Navahoe was kept on the port
tack until 316t when with Vigilant to
but considerably astern, she
tackled to starboard. Vigilant did not
hang long enough for the boats to come
together but also tackled ship at 3.21.
The boats kept on for half an hour on
this tack, when Vigilant again tackled
to port Then it was seen that the
cratic steering had done its work. for
with all her well-known windward
qualities she could not weather Naya-
hoe, and was forced to ease away ua-
Ter her stern in the most ignominious
manner. Navahoe then tackled on he.
'lvals weather and held this position
lntii both boats had somewhat over
stood the second mark, when the Nava-
zoe came about again, and reached for
I. Just before rounding, the big bal
Don Jtb was broken out and Navahoe
omped away for home we'll within her
ime limit. Vigilant was 30 seconds
behind, but did not hoist her balloon. {
citing her big jib topsail instead.
Then began one of the most exciting
inishes seen for many day With j
he iightship only six miles away. Wig
liant started to get by Navahoe and
make up the five minutes necessary to
vim She did the former, but fell :
hort of the latter. Luffing up to wind Z
ward she cut off Navahoe's wind and |
hen slipped by. Captain Crocker
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