DEFENDER to Windward of VALKYRIE III During the First Race of the America's Cup, September 7, 1895

oil, 30" x 40"

$55,000

Blake cleverly places both DEFENDER and her opponent VALKYRIE III dead center in this painting - full rig shown to re-create the closeness and tension of the race for the Cup. Both yachts were very evenly matched for the first hour of the race, but gradually DEFENDER moved out ‘to weather’ of VALKYRIE III and led by three minutes at the weather mark. DEFENDER is shown in the painting pointing higher than Valkyrie III as they sail on the first windward leg of the course. VALKYRIE III has just ‘nosed’ into a wave sending spray flying. Astern, the spectator fleet is being kept clear of the racing yachts by one of the many New York Yacht Club member’s steam yachts, in this instance with schooner rig and square-rigged on the foremast.

The New York Yacht Club's DEFENDER was considered the first Yacht purposely built to defend the America's Cup. Nathanael Herreshoff-built and funded by Cornelius Vanderbilt, J.P. Morgan, and C. Oliver Islen, no expense was spared in her construction which featured an ultra-light aluminum hull!