Page:The history of yachting.djvu/464

224 home, leading the Dolphin by two minutes, the Hope third, and Experiment fourth, when the first three received their respective silver cups and the Experiment a telescope."

August II, 1797, the Mercury and Providence sailed a match from Gun Wharf, Blackwall, round the Nore light-ship and return, for a wager of 40 guineas, which was won by the Mercury in twelve hours and five minutes, she leading the Providence by twenty miles.

The Vauxhall Cup for 1798, was sailed for on July 18th, by the Caroline, Active, Nymph, and Providence. There was a good breeze at starting, but it moderated to a calm and the Nymph won the prize.

July 23, 1799, a match was sailed between the Atalanta and the Ann Sarah from Cockholds Point, round a boat, moored at Coal House Point, and return. There was a good breeze and, after "a close and exciting race, the Atalanta won."

In the year 1800 the Vauxhall Cup was won by the Cumberland, Captain Byrne. An engraving that appeared in the Sporting Magazine of that year, representing the yachts passing the committee boat, is here reproduced. In this year also a match was sailed on May 15th, between the Mary Ann, the Earl of Wickham's yacht, and the Earl Spencer, of Gravesend, for 50 guineas. The course was from Gravesend, round the Ouse buoy, and return, a distance of sixty miles. This match was won by the Earl Spencer, which made the distance in six hours and a half. The tide, no doubt, was