 She was skippered by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff himself.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.