Portside view of the AMERICA under sail

Artist Oswald Walter Brierly (English - Australian, 1817 - 1894)

Lithographer Day and Son, Lithographers

Date1851

Object number00030323

NameLithograph

MediumInk on paper, framed

DimensionsOverall: 395 × 535 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionHand coloured lithopgraph after the drawing by O.W. Brierly, on stone by T.G. Dutton, in 1851. Image depicts portside view of the schooner AMERICA under sail. AMERICA was the first yacht to win the race that would eventually be known as the America's Cup. AMERICA, captained by Commodore John Stevens, won the America's Cup from the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1851.HistoryIn 1848 Queen Victoria instigated the creation of a golden cup, known as the 'One Hundred Guinea Cup' to be awarded for a yacht race. The competition would be open to all nations. In the inaugural race on 22 August 1851 the United States built schooner AMERICA challenged 16 British vessels and was victorious in the 85 kilometre race around the Isle of Wight. The competition is still in operation today and one of the most respected and prestigious sailing competitions to be held in the world. AMERICA was a schooner yacht designed by George Steers for Commodore John Cox Stevens. Steers was a member of the New York Yacht Club and built the vessel as a deliberate challenge to the British designed vessels that were dominating the sport of yachting. Due to the fact that AMERICA contested the race off Cowes in England and later returned to New York, it was the first yacht to cross the Atlantic both ways. The crossing from New York to Le Havre took 17 and a half days. SignificanceThis scene was originally painted by Brierly who was in attendance at the conclusion of the first America's Cup race.