126 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[AtJG. 11, 1894. 
Vigilant— Britannia,. 
PRIVATE MATCH. 
Saturday, Aug. U. 
The race at Penzance on July 38 ended the first part of Vigilant's 
foreign racing, and though she has been unsuccessful a very liberal 
allowance must be made for the fact that in this preliminary- racing 
she was undergoing that working up which is necessary in new 
waters and after a long pea voyage. As the result of the four weeks 
sailing and racing the yacht is apparently, as she should be, in good 
condition and her crew are more familiar with the work of racing in 
British waters. With the race on Saturday she begins a new series 
of sharp and decisive racing, and if she. be successful from this time 
out she may wipe away entirely the unfortunate record of the Clyde 
and the Irish coast. The great advantage which Britannia held a 
month ago, of perfect preparation, as opposed to a yacht just fresh 
from a long sea trip, has largely disappeared, as Vigilant has been 
worked up to racing form, and a fairer test of their true merits is 
now possible. From thfs time on Satanita becomes a factor, but she 
is likely to have little effect on the final total of prizes, except in very 
rough water, and in making a third boat at the line in starting, as 
well as in picking up flukes when the other two combatants are luff- 
ing each other, or similarly occupied. Valkyrie, after all reports; of 
refitting, etc., was sold at auction on Aug. 2 at Glasgow, the hull 
bringing but £670, or less than the value of her lead ballast. 
There was much disappointment at Falmouth and Plymouth over 
the departure Of Vigilant without entering the races at these ports, 
but under the circumstances there was nothing else to do, as some lit- 
tle time was absolutely required for preparation before the beginning 
of the Cowes races. Vigilant left Falmouth under sail on July 30, and 
reached Southampton at noon next day, where she was at once 
docked. The bottom was cleaned and polished and some further 
alterations made to the sails, and on Aug. 2 she sailed for Cowes, 
without yet having been measured, but was recalled by a message 
from Mr. George Gould, ordering that she should be measured at 
Southampton, in the dock. This was done, with the result that her 
third place, as Satanita dropped astern, but after Vigilant worked into 
first place in the middle of the course she gained continually to the 
finish, winning by some 6m. Vigilant's allowance to Britannia for the 
course of 50 miles was 2m. 9s. The course is the same sailed by 
America in 1851, when she won the Royal Yacht Squadron cup which 
now bears her name. 
The start was given at 10 A. M., the times of crossing being: 
Satanita 10 0 0 05 Britannia. ... ..10 00 23 Vigilant 10 00 50 
With a good elubtopsail breeze on the quarter, Satanita took a clear 
lead, while Britannia and Vigilant were bothering each other, the 
former to windward. 
Vigilant ran through Britannia's lee. and when they were off Ryde, 
6 miles from the start, the times stood: 
Satanita 10 39 55 Vigilant 10 31 35 Britannia 10 32 25 
Spinaker booms were dropped to starboard, and the three ran free 
as far as Bainbridge Point, where they were timed: 
Satanita 10 47 20 Vigilant 10 47 30 Britannia 10 48 15 
The next half-dozen miles, to Ventnor, was a reach, with booms 
over the port quarter, the wind falling a little. Britannia passed both 
Vigilant and Satanita, the latter falling astern to third place. The 
times at Ventnor were: 
Britannia 12 25 15 Vigilant 12 25 52 Satanita 12 26 31 
Between Ventnor and St. Catherine's, Vigilant and Britannia worked 
the shore very closely, dodging the tide, both yachts striking the 
rocks, Britannia hanging for a short time. The wind shifted to S.E., 
and spinakers were set for the Needles, where they were timed: 
Vigilant, 2 34 00 Britannia 2 36 42 Satanita 2 45 20 
When in Totland Bay, with a foul tide, the wind fell to a flat calm, 
but finally freshened from southwest, and spinakers were set to 
starboard. They were timed off Yarmouth: 
Vigilant 3 34 21 Britannia 3 37 36 Satanita 8 52 55 
The finish was slow, with a light wind and ebb tide, the times being: 
Finish. Elapsed. Corrected. 
Vigilant 5 04 54 7 04 54 7 04 54 
Britannia 5 13 07 7 13 07 7 10 58 
Satanita 5 53 88 7 53 38 *7 53,38 
*Esti mated. 
been locked together, and their sticks would have come rattling down 
in a way that would in all probability have caused serious damage to 
life and limb. As it was, they swung clear and their spars stood, 
though Satanita's topmast was bending like a fishing rod and the 
Valkyrie's mainsheet getting loose, the boom took a wild jibe which 
threatened to carry away the runner. Finally the Valkyrie fetched up 
alongside of the port counter of the Vanduara and sank exactly 7m. 
43s. after the collision, which had taken place 3s. bpfore the starting 
gun. By good luck, she listed slightly to port when going down^so 
that her topmast (which snapped off as she sank} fell away from the 
Vanduara. The times quoted above are accurate, being taken from 
Stop-watches on board Lutra and Valkyrie. 
Britannia meantime had jibed, and having got on to the right side 
of the line, crossed it ahead and on the weather of Vigilant, The 
small sailing boat above referred to had a second narrow escape, Bri- 
tannia passing her so close that one of those on board actually touched 
her. 
As to the cause of the accident, while several things (which I do not 
think it necessary to specify) no doubt contributed to it, there can be 
doubt that the proximate caus« was the folly of those in the small 
sailing boat in attempting to sail right across the course a few min- 
utes before tbe start. It had nearlv proved suicidal, and resulted in 
the collision between the yachts, and the sad death of one of the hands 
of the Valkyrie. 
In conclusion, I would say, with reference to the plan, that the rela- 
tive distances of the markboat and the sailing boat from the commo- 
dore, and of the commodore from the Hebe and Vandura are estima- 
ted and not measured distances. 
1 
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SXMomcAi' 
COWES AND THE SOLENT. 
rating was 168.5, calling for an allowance to Britannia of 2m. 4s. in a 
50-mile race, instead of 1m. 10s. as estimated. The official figures of 
Vigilant, Valkyrie and Britannia as measured this year by the Y. R. A. 
rule, are as follows: 
L.W.L. S. A. 
Ft. Sq.ft. Rating. 
Vigilant 87.25 11.588 168.5 
Britannia 88.24 10;395 152.87 
Valkyrie 86.80 10,628 153.75 
Vigilant's l.w.l. in the Cup races last fall was but 86 19, Valkyrie's 
being 85.50. Vigilant was measured with a crew of 45 men, while 
Britannia was measured with 36 men. Britannia took in two to three 
tons of ballast after the Penzance race, setting her by the stern and 
increasing her l.w.l. 
The race of Saturday was a private match made by Mr. George 
Gould and the Prince of Wales, for a cup costing $500, to be paid for 
by the loser. The course was from off the R, Y. S. house, Cowes, 
around the Lepe Buoy, then around the Warner, and back to Cowes, 
sailed twice. From the starting line off the Prince Consort Buoy to 
the Lepe Buoy is just over 2}& miles; from the Lepe Buoy to the War- 
ner is full 12 miles, and from the latter mark to the line is just over 
9U miles, the allowances being for a 48-mile course. On board of Vigi- 
lant were Mr. George Gould, Col. Paget, representing Britannia, Lord 
Lonsdale and Mr. C. Oliver Iselin. Com. Morgan sailed on Britannia 
as the representative of Vigilant. With Capt. Haff and Capt. Jaffrey 
was Capt. Tommy Diaper, the pilot. 
The day turned out rainy and cloudy, with a strong S.W. wind shift- 
ing toward the south at times. An immense fleet of yachts was in 
attendance in Cowes Roads, and the town was full of visitors, includ- 
ing many Americans. The start was made at 10:30, the yachts carry- 
ing working topsails , both tacked on the line after coming up from 
the wi-stward, Vigilant crossing first, with Britannia some distance off 
her weather quarter. They started on port tack, holding on for some 
time until well up with the Hampshire shore, Britannia tacking first 
and Vigilant immediately following. On the next leg they stood clear 
across the Solent to the Gurnets, Britannia again tacking first. A 
short leg out to mid-channel brought them to the buoy, Vigilant 
weathering it easily, while Britannia overstood a little. The times 
at the Lepe Buoy were: Vigilant 10:55:07, Britannia 10:56:00. Vigilant 
had gained a little since the start. 
The booms swung over to port and sheets were slacked off, spinaker 
booms being lowered and jibtopsails set, but after passing Cowes and 
hauling up a little foe the course to clear the Noman Fort and the 
many buoys, the spinaker booms were swung in. In passing Cowes 
the two were timed as lm. 10s. apart, and off Ryde Pier this distance 
had increased to 4m. 40s. 
With the wind a little more to the south sheets came in as they 
neared the Noman Fort, and on the last mile to the turn, after passing 
that point, the yachts hauled up to suit the new course. The times at 
the Warner Lightship were: Vigilant 11:50:46, Britannia 11:53:33. 
The course from the Lepe Buoy had been a reach, with the wind first 
abaft the beam, then square abeam, and finally heading as the yachts 
sailed along a segment of a circle. The wind was strong, coming in 
puffs at times, and both hetled well down, Vigilant taking the greater 
angle. Under these conditions she had gained some 2J_m. 
They started back with booms well off to starboard, but soon 
trimmed in as the course drew to the westward. The rain fell heavily 
and the wind still held a= they went up by Ryde and Cowes. On the 
last stretch to the Lepe Buoy the wind freed and sheets were slacked, 
in place of the dead beat over the same water at the start. The times 
at the Lepe Buoy were: Vigilant 12:49:49, Britannia 12:58:53. 
On the way back to the Warner the rain continued to fall, but the 
wind fell light for a short time after passing Cowes, soon piping up 
again Tbey were timed at the Warner on the second round: Vigilant 
1:54:23, Britannia 2:00:17. Vigilant had thus gained over 2m. on the 
reach of 12 miles. . 
The sail back to Cowes made no difference in the positions, the finish 
being timed: Vigilant 2:36:45, Britannia 2:43:18. 
Vigilant thus wins by 6m. 33s. elapsed and 4m. 29s. corrected. 
Tbe only windsvard work was the first Z\4, miles, the rest being all 
reaching. The speed of the yachts was exceptional, the average being 
12 knots, showing a still higher speed at times. Lord Dunraven acted 
as referee. 
Royal London Y. C. Regatta. 
COWES. \ 
Monday, Aug. 6. 
The selection of Aug. 4 by the owners of Britannia and Vigilant for 
their private match completely spoiled the first fixture of the Cowes 
meeting, the regatta of the Royal Southampton Y. O, originally set 
for that day. Britannia, Vigilant and Satanita were expected, and the 
absence of the first two made it necessary to postpone the race. The 
first regular event of the meeting was consequently the Royal London 
Y C regatta on Monday, the course being around the Isle of Wight, 
starting to the eastward from off Cowes and finishing at the same 
P( The day was clear with a fresh N.N.W. wind which held until the 
course was half completed when it shifted to S.W. and fell light, the 
yachts at one time all being becalmed. The first part of the race was 
a bard battle between Vigilant and Britannia for second, and later for 
Vigilant wins from Britannia by 6m. 4s. The prize is £130. 
Vigilant went on the dock on Tuesday, not being elegible to the 
race for the Queen's Cup. The starters were Britannia, Meteor, 
L. Esperance. Cariora, Mohawk and Cartanet. Britannia started 
before the gun and did not notice the recall, so was disqualified. She 
and Vigilant will sail on Wednesday. 
The fixtures for the remainder of the season are as follows: 
Aug. 8— Royal Yacht Squadron regatta, Cowes. 
Aug. 9— Royal Yacht Squadron regatta. Cowes. 
Aug. 10— Royal Yacht Squadron regatta, Cowes. 
Aug. 11— Royal Southampton regatta, in the Solent. 
Aug. 14— Royal Victoria regatta, Ryde. 
Aug. 15— Royal Victoria regatta, Ryde. 
Aug. 16— Royal Victoria regatta, Ryde. 
Aug. 17— Royal Victoria regatta, Ryde. 
Aug. 20— Royal Albert regatta, Southsea. 
Aug. 21— Royal Albert regatta, Southsea. 
Aug. 24— Royal Dorset, Spithead to Weymouth. 
Aug. 25— Royal Dorset regatta, Weymouth. 
Aug. 27— Torbay Royal regatta, Torquay. 
Aug. 28— Royal Torbay regatta, Torquay. 
Aug. 31— Royal Dart regatta, Dartmouth. 
Sept. 4— Royal Western of England regatta, Plymouth. 
Sept. 5— Royal Western of England regatta, Plymonth. 
Valkyrie— Satanita. 
Our recent exchanges bring fuller accounts of a collision which is 
certain to be a historic one, giving many details which were lacking in 
the cabled accounts. We reprint the following diagram and letters 
from the Meld. 
A very interesting controversy has arisen in England over the bear- 
ing of the collision on the new type of yacht and the rating rule, one 
party contending that the modern bow of Satanita acted as a buffer, 
and from its shape inflicted less damage than the old plumb stem 
would have caused. On the other hand it is held that the very long 
bowsprit and heavy bobstay of the old cutters would have made a 
still more effectual buffer, and probably have saved Valkyrie. 
From tlie Field, July iU. 
Sir: I send you. with this letter, a sketch showing the position of 
the several yachts, etc., at the start of the first race of the Mudhook 
Y. C regatta, on the 5th inst., when the above unfortunate event took 
place. 
The steam yacht Lutra (Col. Malcolm, C. B.) was acting as commo- 
dore for the day, moored, as usual, off the pier at Hunter's Quay, and 
the markboat was anchored at a good distance in the direction of 
Gourock. The starting line was amply wide enough. The direction 
of wind is shown by the arrow— blowing at right angles to the line, or 
nearly so. 
After the five minutes preparatory gun was fired. Satanita and 
Britannia were standing toward the commodore on port tack on the 
wrong side of the starting line. The former had oeen luffing Britan- 
nia, while the Vigilant was further off, and to leeward of the mark- 
boat. Valkyrie was inshore, coming out on starboard tack. 
The Satanita,as she got near the starting gun,reached across toward 
the commodore and was bearing away so as to get on the right side of 
the line. It is asserted (as reported by your correspondent last week) 
that her idea was to bear away and then luff up round the stern of 
Valkyrie and get on her weather— if so it seemed to all on board Lutra 
that she was too soon — and would have had to make a wide sweep; 
indeed, our notion was that she would gybe round after crossing to 
the right side of the line and come out on starboard tack, but to lee- 
ward of Valkyrie, this being the maneuver which Britannia actually 
did carry out, though, being further to windward, she had to gybe be- 
fore getting to leeward of the starting line. At this moment a small 
fishing boat suddenly appeared around Lutra's counter, heading ap- 
parently for Gourock She was at once hailed by the writer and others 
on board to get out of the way, but paid no attention and held on her 
course. It was seen that she would be right in the track of the Satan- 
ita: but that vessel shifted her helm and luffed up a little to avoid 
running her down. So close a shave was it that we all thought she 
was done for, and when she came in sight past the Satanita's counter 
it was seen that her mast was broken and a man overboard, hanging 
on to her stern. ' „• 
The Satanita, after luffing, had reached across nearly to the commo- 
dore and swept past her counter at a great speed, and it was then 
clear that she would have great difficulty in avoiding a smash of some 
sort. She attempted to bear away between steam yacht Hebe and 
steam yacht Vanduara (see plan), but did not do so, the reason being, 
as we now know, that she simply would not answer her helm. All this 
time the Valkyrie was coming out on starboard tack, and seeing 
Satanita bearing down on her, she, when near the s*ern of Hebe, luffed 
up The Satanita, at the last moment, as it seemed to those on board 
Lutra, tried to luff also; at all events, just as Valkyrie was at the 
counter of the Hebe she ran right into her, between the mast and run- 
ner, with a crash which will long linger in the memory of those who 
heard it. By great good fortune her bowsprit ran under the Valkyrie's 
boom and clear of her rigging. Had it struck the shrouds, or gone 
through the mainsail, tbe two vessels would bave alowst cerfcahiry 
■ZrfVMXtRlE (3:a.-asc,.'il isck) 
I think, however, that they are fairly accurate, and trust that the 
sketch and the foregoing description of the greatest yachting disaster 
that has occurred for many years will enable those not present to un- 
derstand how it took place. If they will, in addition, lead to greater 
caution on the part of small sailing boats and a little more thought- 
fulness on the part of large steam yachts as to where they anchor at 
regattas, my object will be more than nerved. An Eve Witness. 
Glasgow, July 10. 
P. S.— Valkyrie sank 12m. 48s. after the first gun. The collision was 
3s. before the second gun. Time afloat after the second gun, 7m. 40s. 
From the Field, July SI. 
Sir: I have read with care the graphic account by "An Eye Wit- 
ness" of the unfortunate collision between Satanita any Valkyrie at 
Hunter's Quay . It is evidently the work of one who saw the sad affair 
in its entirety, and who has written the article with much judgment 
and no little consideration. 
I trust you will believe I write in no controversial spirit when I say- 
that, from my point of view, it is just a little misleading; and I think 
nothing bears me out in this more than the deduction you yourself, 
sir. draw from it in your leader on the subject. 
I think that it must be apparent to all that an event of this kind, 
which happened so very unexpectedly and so very swiftly, caonot be 
definitely reproduced in the form of an accurate diagram. The im- 
minent peril in which every one was placed, whether in the Lutra, 
Vanduara, Hebe, Valkyrie, or Satanita, must have made this, under 
the circumstances, especially impossible. I submit that only those on 
the Satanita could have any idea which was the possible way to avoid 
crashing over the small craft. The position of those on the other ves- 
sels must have been one of terrible uncertainty as to where the sub- 
sequent danger must lie. I am in a position to state that I have con- 
versed with many of our most respected Clyde yachtsmen, who saw 
the accident from the Mohican, Lutra, Katoomba, Valkyrie, and many 
other points of view, and I have heard but the one opinion expressed, 
that the accident was wholly owing to the righteous desire on the part 
of the skipper of the Satanita to save the lives of the miserable occu- 
pants of the little boat in the first place, and after that no mortal man 
could have avoided the calamity. 
From my position on the lee side of the Satanita I saw the utter im- 
possibility of bearing away on our course on account of the direction 
that the little boat was taking. I also saw that when we bore up to 
avoid her, she, with the suicidal impulse of absolute ignorance, bore 
up also, and I certainly never expected to see her come out from under 
our bows. From my place in the wash of the scuppers she disap- 
peared from view, and must only have been saved by the bow wave 
throwing her out bodily to leeward. After that the helm was put hard 
up to avoid Lutra, Valkyrie or other vessels; but the speed at which 
we were going, the great length of the vessel, and the well-known 
sluggishness every vesel shows in bearing away quickly at that point 
of sailing, made what was looked upon as a last resort an absolute im- 
possibility. To come about was quite out of the question on account 
of our proximity to the steamers to the weather. The Satanita's course 
was more to leeward than the chart shows. She passed extremely 
close to the markboat from my personal observation. 
But, as I said before, it is not a matter for controversy. There has 
been none here, and I trust there will be none. The whole subject is of 
such extreme painf ulness to all concerned that I hope the matter may 
be allowed to drop. The verdict everywhere here that I know of is 
complete exoneration of those in charge of both Satanita and Valkyrie, 
and I trust that yachtsmen generally and all interested will accept it. 
I trust that "An Eye Witness" will take no exception to these remarks. 
He casts no aspersions whatever upon any one, and knowing that his 
desires must be precisely the same as my own In the matter, I only 
venture to write this in case any one might be further misled. 
One Who Was on the Satanita. 
Bay Head V. C. Corinthian Race. 
BAY BEAD— BARNEGAT BAY. 
Saturday, July 28. 
Distance ten miles, weather showery, S.E wind. Started with a 
full three-reef breeze, but after turning first flag shook out reefs and 
finished the race with more than a full-sail breeze. 
Length Start. Elapsed. Corrected 
Olympia 22.01 3 26 18 1 44 30 1 08 58 
Kate 14.04 3 26 55 1 48 09 1 09 22 
Lilia 21.06 3 26 50 1 39 25 1 08 06 
Paulina 21.05 3 26 17 1 50 30 1 14 05 
Peggy ....19.00 3 26 17 1 47 25 1 17 29 
Vixen 22.03 3 26 17 1 42 11 1 06 51 
Cricket 15.09 3 26 13 1 50 43 1 04 58 
Gertie 20.08 3 27 30 1 42 48 1 05 21 
Iris 20.08 3 27 00 1 43 08 1 04 41 
Madge 18.06 3 26 12 1 47 20 1 06 35 
Regatta committee, W. M. McCawley, J. E. Egbert, Edward Pen- 
pjngwn. Judges, Messrs. Star, Egbert and Goldschmidt, 
