An Early Start: Schooner Yacht AMERICA and Royal Yacht VICTORIA AND ALBERT in the Needles, 1851

oil, 30" x 40"

$48,000

In the mid-19th-century the Royal Yacht Squadron on the small Isle of Wight (just five miles from the historic port of Portsmouth on England’s Southern Coast), was the heart of English yacht racing. As the only club allowed to fly the White Royal Navy Ensign, their members had tremendous pride in English yacht designs and boat building skills. However, there were a few American yachtsmen members of the newly formed New York Yacht Club who felt that American industry and designs were superior, and they decided to build a yacht to prove it. The Schooner Yacht AMERICA was the result.

 In the summer of 1851 John Cox Stevens and members of his syndicate sailed AMERICA into the mouth of the dragon, the Squadron’s own harbor in search of a race. Stevens even issued a personal challenge offering a $10,000 pound prize (2.7 million in today's U.S. dollars), to any English yacht that could best AMERICA head-to-head. No individual English yachtsman came forward, but AMERICA was invited to participate in the Squadron’s annual race - 53 miles around the Isle of Wight. The “prize,” an unprepossessing silver cup that cost a mere hundred guineas, known as the “Auld Mug.” AMERICA and fourteen English yachts answered the starting gun at 10 a.m., by weighing anchor and getting underway (the standard starting method of the time). At 8:30 p.m. AMERICA crossed the finish line in first place, winning what is now the oldest ‘Cup’ in competitive sports history and beginning a 137-year winning streak of ‘America’s Cup’ Regattas that only ended in 1983. In this beautiful painting, English artist Tim Thompson (whose book “The Winning Moment,” features his paintings of every America’s Cup Race from 1851 to the present) shows AMERICA close hauled- American Flag proudly flying, sailing past the Royal Yacht VICTORIA and ALBERT where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were watching.

 Yachting has a long history in England. Charles II who reigned from 1660-1685, was credited with introducing yacht racing there, which gave rise to yachting being regarded as the “ Sport of Kings.” He personally owned over 20 yachts in his lifetime.  In 1943 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert commissioned their own Royal Yacht- to be used by them as a floating ‘home away from home’ for their travels to the European continent around the British Isles. Unlike Charles’ lavishly decorated yachts, the interior was simply comfortable and well appointed. The dining salon featured a gimbal table designed by Prince Albert himself that could seat eighteen guests. Victoria and Albert made over 60 voyages around Europe aboard their yacht.

 One of the yacht’s other distinguished design characteristics were her two extremely tall Masts from which the yacht’s huge court flags were flown – as seen in Thompson’s painting, the flags could be seen for miles away. On the main mast we see the ‘Royal Standard,’ which signifies that the Queen is aboard. This flag featured Victoria’s Coat of Arms, which included the three Lions of England, the Scottish Lion, and the Irish Harp (on the blue background) From the foremast flies the Admiralty flag (which also identifies that the Queen is onboard) – it features a fouled anchor (on a red background), and signifies the ceremonial head of the Royal Navy; much like the U.S. President, though not a soldier, is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

 In the distance can be seen with some of the English yachts, the distinctive chalk cliffs at the far Western end of the Isle of Wight. They’re said to be the most photographed harbor and landmark in England today.