Page:The history of yachting.djvu/463

Rh matters the captain of the Vixen, armed with a cutlass, slashed away at the rigging of the Mercury, and did great execution. In the meantime, the Mermaid took the lead, and arrived at the mark-boat, off Vauxhall, at a quarter past eight, winning the cup, the Mercury in a disabled condition being the fourth boat. "At night the Gardens at Vauxhall were filled with people and the cups of the preceding years were exhibited to a crowd of spectators, who were highly pleased with their evening's entertainment."

In 1796 the Vauxhall Cup was sailed for from Vauxhall Gardens to Putney Bridge by the Vixen, Captain Fairbrother, and the Mercury, Captain Astley. The wind was light, with rain showers, and the Vixen drifted past the mark-boat the winner. "The river was covered with vessels of all descriptions from barges to wherrys, and the Turkish Ambassador was in the Vauxhall cutter, and the magnificent car was exhibited on the occasion filled with musicians, and formed no less a splendid sight than an attractive entertainment."

July 21, 1796, the Bristol Sailing Society, at Kingsroad, held a match, which was sailed around the Holmes. The following boats were entered: Severn, Dispatch, Antelope, Dolphin, Experiment, Hope, Frolic, Fancy, Industry, and Chausen (a Dutch boat). They started at 8, the wind strong from the westward. "The waves were so high that only four boats could keep the sea, and the other six were obliged to run into different places for shelter. The Antelope was the first boat