The Defender Trials

In April the NYYC announces the schedule of elimination races. June races will not be counted as they are, "to allow the craft to make any experiments they choose and also to train crews". A total of 35 elimination races are planned thereafter, ending in the three trial races off Newport in mid August.⁶

When the races start the press and others are pulling for VANITIE; "RESOLUTE is not the popular favorite, her designer and builders are universally disliked, and the majority of yachtsmen for this reason would rejoice to see the Herreshoff boat beaten by VANITIE. Gardner is an exceedingly affable and approachable man has done much to aid the pastime, and for that reason yachtsmen, and especially the newspapermen would like to see his boat chosen.⁷

Twenty races are held before RESOLUTE is declared the Defender with 15 firsts out of 18 starts. Many are very close wins over VANITIE who must give 1 min. and 46 sec. to the lower rated RESOLUTE. VANITIE has five firsts out of 20 races, including two wins when RESOLUTE does not start. DEFIANCE, never fully tuned up, and beset with rig failures has no wins in only ten starts.  She will not race again.