The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-08-20 00:00:00

THE REGATTA.

From an early hour on Friday morning, the whole of the
ferry steamers, and, indeed, all the plyable river craft, were
densely crowded with passengers, all, doubtless anxious to
witness the result of the long-expected and well-contested trial
of aquatic skill between Liverpool, Dublin, and Chester
amateurs. The weather which was previously very un-
pleasant, cleared up, and became unusually sultry. The
matches expected to be the best contested, were those in
which the Dublin, Liverpool, and Chester contended in row-
ing, and though the favour and betting seemed generally to
be in favour of the Chester, bets were freely accepted by
the Liverpool and Dublin.
Preparations had been made, on a large scale, at the several
Ferry Houses on the Cheshire side, for the reception and
accommodation of company,—and particularly at the Birken-
head and Monk's.

Towards noon, the period appointed for the commencement
of the sailing races, the quays and promenades of the ferry-
houses opposite the town, and, indeed, the whole interme-
diate shores began to become crowded with spectators, and
the shores, at every point, to " swarm" with vessels, from
the steamer to the cock-boat. As the races proceeded, the
respective ferries assumed the appearance of crowded fairs,
and the adjacent fields and lanes became crowded with'S-Con-
gregation of well-dressed individuals of both sexes and of all
ages. Flags were flying, and guns being fired in everYrdirec-
tion; and the scene, as seen from approaching steam and
other vessels, was highly animating and interesting. On the
rocky shore and in the field between Birkenhead and Monk's
Ferry, we should suppose that the parties assembled were
from two to three thousand.
The MERSEY Cur, value £3O, for Gentlemen's Yachts,
not exceeding 25 tons. To start from New Brighton, to
round a Boat on the larboard hand off Eastham, then
round one off Nott's-hole, and to come in between. the
Flag-ship and the Winning-post from the southivaid.
Seagull .. H. Melling, Esq. 25 Tons.... 1
Midas J. Holt, Esq.
Dickey Sam.... J. C. Shaw, Esq.
Ariel
Catharine N. Blundell, Esq.
Atalanta C4pt. Scovill 2O „ 0
Shortly after the appointed time for the commencement of
the first race, the Ariel shot out of Seacombe Bay in full
sail, and was closely followed, on the same tack, by the
Dicky Sam, and, about half a tack astern; by the Seagull.
At Monk's Ferry, the scene was most picturesque : the-Ariel
was going about on the larboard tack, the Dicky Sam- in a
fine breeze on the larboard tack, while the Seagull was'full
on the starboard tack. The boat with a Dutch ensign (the
name of which we were unable to learn) fell off, and got
under the lee of the Birkenhead shore. Off Eastharn, the
Seagull and Dicky Sam gained fast on the Ariel. On arriv-
ing off Seacombe the Seagull and the Dicky Sam were still
gaining ground ; and on the starboard tack, from East-
ham, towards Nott's Hole, the Seagull first, and Dicky Sam
second, passed the Dublin boat, the Seagull keeping the
weather guage. Here the wind died away, but on the boats
reachinc, the Potteries a light but steady breeze sprung up
from the south-east, which brought them up rapidly in the
following order :—Seagull first, by about a quarter of a mile,
Midas second, followed closely by Dicky Sam and Ariel. ",
THE VICTORIA Cur, value £3O, for four-oar Boats, to be
rowed and steered by Gentlemen Amateurs,' with Xls
for the second boat. To be decided in two Races and
a Tie. To start from the Flag-ship round two Boats
moored off Rock Ferry on the starboard hand, and in
between the Flag-ship and the Winning-post from the
southward.