Drifting Match - America’s Cup ENDEAVOUR and RAINBOW, September 15, 1934

oil on canvas, 18" x 22"

$9,500

This painting depicts the first race between ENDEAVOUR and RAINBOW on September 15, 1934. RAINBOW had led around the windward mark but the wind died out to a flt calm and the race was called off. As can be seen in the painting, the boats arew just ghosting along. They are nearing the leeward mark, and ENDEAVOUR has hoisted her job in “rotten stops” so that it can be easily broken out once around the leeward mark. At the helm of ENDEAVOUR is Thomas Sopwith, alongside him in the black beret is his wife. he made up part of the afterguard of ENDEAVOUR in races.

ENDEAVOUR was designed by Charles Nicholson, and owned and skippered by Thomas Sopwith. RAINBOW was designed by W. Starling Burgess and was built for a syndicate headed by past Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, Harold Vanderbuilt.

RAINBOW was built in Herreshoff’s yard in Bristol, RI. She was 127’ 3” overall. ENDEAVOUR was 129’ 8” overall.

Although ENDEAVOUR lost this America’s Cup by three races to two, she appeared to be the faster boat.