''Vigilant'' was the victorious United States defender of the eighth America's Cup in 1893 against British challenger ''Valkyrie II''. ''Vigilant'' was designed by

Nathanael Greene Herreshoff Nathanael Greene Herreshoff (March 18, 1848 – June 2, 1938) was an American naval architect, mechanical engineer, and yacht design innovator. He produced a succession of undefeated America's Cup defenders between 1893 and 1920. Biography Her ...

and built in 1893 by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of

Bristol, Rhode Island Bristol is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, US as well as the historic county seat. The town is built on the traditional territories of the Pokanoket Wampanoag. It is a deep water seaport named after Bristol, England. The population of ...

. She was Herreshoff's first victorious America's Cup defender design.

Design

''Vigilant'' was a centerboard sloop with all-metal (steel and bronze) construction. She was owned by a syndicate led by

Charles Oliver Iselin Charles Oliver Iselin (June 8, 1854 – January 1, 1932) was an American banker and yachtsman who was captain of racing yachts that won the America's Cup three times. Early life Iselin was the son of Adrian Georg Iselin and Eleanora O Donnell ...

and which included Edwin Dennison Morgan, August Belmont, Jr.,

Cornelius Vanderbilt Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 – January 4, 1877), nicknamed "the Commodore", was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. After working with his father's business, Vanderbilt worked his way into lead ...

, Charles R. Flint, Chester W. Chapin, George R. Clark, Henry Astor Carey, Dr. Barton Hopkins, E.M. Fulton, Jr. and Adrian G Iselin. She was skippered by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff himself.

Career

Launched on June 14, 1893, ''Vigilant'' beat ''Colonia'', ''Jubilee'', and ''Pilgrim'' to win the 1893 American selection trials for the America's Cup defense. In the 1893 America's Cup ''Vigilant'' faced Lord Dunraven's British keel cutter ''Valkyrie II'' in a best three out of five races format sailed on alternating courses. The races were sailed October 7, 9, and 13, 1893 off

Sandy Hook, NJ Sandy Hook is a barrier spit in Middletown Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The barrier spit, approximately in length and varying from wide, is located at the north end of the Jersey Shore. It encloses the southern en ...

just south of New York. The first and third races were 15 miles to windward off Scotland Lightship and return to leeward, the second race was a 30-mile equilateral triangle. Lord Dunraven's daughter became the first female to sail in an international yacht race in the United States. In the first race on October 7, in light air, ''Valkyrie II'' won the 11:25 am start by 15 seconds and one boat length. At the first mark, ''Vigilant'' held a nine-minute lead. ''Vigilant'' crossed the finish line 7 minutes ahead of ''Valkyrie II''8 minutes 48 seconds in corrected time. In the second race on October 9, ''Vigilant'' won the 11:25 am start by 5 seconds, but ''Valkyrie II'' worked out to an early lead of 5 boat lengths in a building breeze. By the first mark, ''Vigilant'' held a five-minute lead and worked out to a 9-minute lead at the second mark. At the finish ''Vigilant'' beat ''Valkyrie II'' by 12 minutes 30 seconds10 minutes 35 seconds in corrected time. In the third race on October 13, 1893, Lord Dunraven, was facing elimination but was certain the ''Valkyrie II'' could equal or better ''Vigilant'' in the strong breeze. ''Valkyrie II'' led the windward leg, but lost a spinnaker at the two-thirds point of the downwind run. At the finish, ''Vigilant'' beat ''Valkyrie II'' by 40 seconds in corrected time to successfully defend the cup. ''The World'' reported it as the fastest race ever sailed, over a course of 15 miles to windward and return under reefed sail and a gale. In 1894 ''Vigilant'' was bought by

Howard Gould Howard Gould (June 8, 1871 – September 13, 1959) was an American financier and the son of Jay Gould. Early life Gould was born in Manhattan on June 8, 1871 to railroad financier Jay Gould (1836–1892) and Helen Day Miller (1838–1889). He ...

and became the first America's Cup defender to sail in Europe for the British yachting season. In the Mount's Bay Regatta of July 28, 1894 the Vigilant was piloted by Benjamin Nicholls of Penzance and the Prince of Wales's (later Edward VII) yacht ''Britannia'' was piloted by Ben's brother Philip Nicholls. The ''Britannia'' won by just over 7 minutes. People came by train from all over the south west to watch this race. Both brothers were Trinity House pilots of Penzance. In sixteen races against ''Britannia'', ''Vigilant'' was beaten twelve times. ''Vigilant'' raced in the defender trials for the 1895 America's Cup won by ''Defender''. From 1896 to 1910 ''Vigilant'' had six different owners. Massachusetts socialite Frederick Lothrop Ames, Jr. purchased the Vigilant in 1902. Her final owner was William Iselin who sailed her from 1906 until 1910. ''Vigilant'' was broken up at a

New London New London may refer to: Places United States *New London, Alabama *New London, Connecticut *New London, Indiana *New London, Iowa *New London, Maryland *New London, Minnesota *New London, Missouri *New London, New Hampshire, a New England town ** ...

junkyard in 1910.

References

External links

Herreshoff Marine Museum

America's Cup Ac-clopaedia

John S. Johnston's Yacht Photography of the 1890s
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vigilant (Yacht) America's Cup defenders Individual sailing vessels Yachts of New York Yacht Club members 1893 in sports Sailboat type designs by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff Former yachts of New York City