RACE BETWEEN THE MERCURY AND THE SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 642, 1 February 1872, Page 3

RACE BETWEEN THE MERCURY AND THE SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS.

The race between the cutters Mercury and Sovereign of the Seas has terminated in a victory for the latter. It will be remembered that on the day of the regatta the Sovereign of the Seas won the race for cutters over 25 tons round Tiritiri, the Mercury coming in a good second. Daring the race the Mercury carried away some of her gear, and her owner being of opinion that he would have carried off the race but for the accident, challenged the Sovereign to another race, the course to be round the Watchman off Cape Colville, race to be for £40. The cutter Nautilus went round the course with the umpire. As we mentioned iv our issue of yesterday, the two vessels started away well together, the Sovereign leading when last in sight. The cutters carried a light southerly breeze, and at six o'clock the Sovereign rounded the Watchman, followed by the Mercury at 6.16, the Nautilus, which was detained some six minutes in leaving the harbour being only a short distance behind the Mercury. During the night the vessels were almost becalmed, and were in sight of each other. At two o'clock the Mercury had gained on the Sovereign, and was leading by about half a mile, but at daybreak the Sovereign had again come to the front, and was leading by a quarter of a 'mile. The breeze then fresh ened and the Sovereign continued to lengthen the distance, being a mile in advance of the Mercury when passing Tiritiri. The Mercury then overhauled the Sovereign, and for some time they were very close together. When going about off the Wade the Sovereign caught a nice breeze and kept it till rounding the North Head, about twelve o'clock. At this time there were over two hundred persons on the wharf. About a quarter past twelve o'clock the Sovereign was becalmed off Haulaki Bay, and at the same time the Mercury showed round the Heads carrying a nice northerly breeze. At this time there was great excitement on the wharf, and betting was running almost two to one on the Mercury, when suddenly her sails were observed to flap, and she remained motionless for nearly half-an hovr. At about one o'clock a fresh southerly breeze came off the shore, and the Sovereign, the nearest to the land, was the first to catch the breeze. While the Mercury was lying becalmed the Sovereign passed her, and carrying the breeze right up to the starting point came in the winner by nearly ten minutes —the Nautilus, which rounded the Heads last, passing the wharf second, and the Mercury third. This, we believe, is the fourth race the Sovereign has carried off.