The American sloop Vigilant slides along with Captain Haff at the helm. She sailed to England in the early summer of 1894 to spend the season racing around the coastal regattas with the British large class. Nathanael Herreshoff came over by ocean liner to supervise her fitting out, and the owner's steam yacht, Atalanta, arrived to act as her tender. The English captains and crews of the large cutters Britannia, Satanita and Valkyrie II, her rival for the America's Cup the previous year, were keen to show they could beat her.

Vigilant's first appearance in Britain was on the Clyde at the Regatta of the quaintly named Mudhook Yacht Club on July 5, 1894. This was the one fixture of the year in which amateur helmsmen were allowed to steer the large-class yachts. While all four were maneuvering for the start, a small sailing boat appeared in the course of the fast Valkyrie II. To avoid a fatal collision, her amateur helmsman, quickly aided by Captain Cranfield, took avoiding action, with the result that she was run into by the Satanita. The two yachts were locked together for a few minutes, then the sinking Valkyrie II drifted away to foul a steam yacht. One of his smartest hands, William Brown of Rowhedge, was crushed between them and later died. Valkyrie II then sank and Satanita lay in the water, disabled. Vigilant and Britannia were unaware of all this and during the first of a series of engagements and in a fine race, the American yacht was only beaten by 36 seconds. With Valkyrie II sunk and Satanita towed away for repairs, Britannia alone was left to race Vigilant again at the Royal Clyde Yacht Club Regatta two days later. Britannia won by 1 minute 7 seconds after 50 miles of sailing. Two days later, the yachts met again and when the race was stopped due to lack of wind, she was 9 minutes 33 seconds ahead of Vigilant. Next day Britannia won again and Vigilant's crew were becoming disheartened, despite a good showing against a well-tuned and manned racer in her home waters. Vigilant's great fault was her slowness in stay compared to the British yachts and her badly setting sails.

Before leaving the Clyde to race in Northern Ireland, Vigilant had her spars slightly shortened and her sail area reduced accordingly. She was towed to Bangor, County Down by her tender Atalanta. At the Royal Ulster Yacht Club Regatta in Belfast Lough Vigilant showed improved form and led Britannia for part of the first race in squally weather with jackyard topsails, though Britannia won by 1 minute 31 seconds over the 50 mile course. Afterwards, at anchor, Captain Carter called over to Captain Haff wishing him a nice day of racing the next morning, and the American replied: "Yeah, so long as we don't get none of them goddamned squalls!" On the second day of racing, the Britannia broke her gaff jaws and had to return to anchor. Vigilant took it easy and sailed over to win. Britannia won again at the Royal St George Yacht Club Regatta on July 20, in Dublin Bay, but Vigilant beat her the following day. At Queenstown, Britannia won again but lost to Vigilant in Cork on July 24. On July 28, Vigilant, Britannia and the 40-rater Corsair were at the Penzance and Mount's Bay Regatta in Cornwall, one of those pleasant coastal fixtures offering classes for everything from the largest yachts to local fishing boats, and attended by thousands, afloat and ashore. Britannia beat Vigilant by 5 minutes 14 seconds and the still disabled Satanita, did not start. By then the American's sails were mishapen and in poor condition, to the despair of her crew.

There was continued good feeling between the skippers and crews of the British and American racers. Britannia's victory was "the signal for the most enthusiastic cheering from thousands of throats, the noise of yachts' whistles and sirens adding to the excitement which prevailed." Vigilant also came in for ovation. After rounding the committee boat, the two cracks came close together and Vigilant's crew gave hearty cheers for the Britannia, whose crew vigorously returned the compliment. Two days later, at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club regatta in Falmouth, the three big yachts were preparing to race when Vigilant suddenly lowered her mainsail and withdrew from the race, to the disappointment of the large crowds of spectators. She hadstrained her bobstay and Hank Haff thought that the headgear would come down if they raced in a freshening wind. With his races at Plymouth cancelled, Vigilant then sailed to the Solent, to refit for Cowes Week and a private match which was being arranged with Britannia.