Lot 385: David Brackman (b.1932)

The Great Transatlantic Race of 1866: Henrietta, Vesta and Fleetwing on the start line
signed 'David Brackman' (lower left)
oil on canvas
34 x 54 in. (86.3 x 137.4 cm.)

The yachting season of 1866 had been one of particularly intense rivalry off the eastern seaboard of the United States, so much so that at a dinner at New York's Union Club in October, three of the leading yachtsmen of the day proposed a breath-taking contest to decide the superiority of their respective boats. George Osgood, son-in-law of the powerful Commodore Vanderbilt, and his brother Franklin jointly owned Fleetwing and they challenged Pierre Lorillard, Jr., to match his Vesta against their yacht in a race across the North Atlantic in mid-winter. As New York society struggled to comprehend the prospect of such an escapade, James Gordon Bennett, Jr., the colourful owner of the New York Herald, expressed the wish to enter his Henrietta in the race and, once accepted, happily agreed to add his $30,000 to the $60,000 already subscribed by the other owners as a purse for the winner.

The race was scheduled to start from the Sandy Hook Lightship on 11 t h December 1866; the three contestants were towed to the line from their anchorage off Staten Island and the New York Yacht Club chartered the sidewheel steamer River Queen for the convenience of spectators. With a prize of $90,000 at stake, the excitement was at fever pitch when the signal to start was made at 1 o'clock; conditions were perfect and Fleetwing got away just ahead of Vesta, with Henrietta left trailing astern as she fought to catch the wind. Despite her seemingly false start Henrietta, perhaps due to the fact that her owner (Bennett) was the only one to make the crossing in person, came in first, passing the Needles at 3.45pm. on Christmas Day to win in a remarkable 13 days, 21 hours and 45 minutes. Fleetwing crossed the finish line precisely at midnight the same day and Vesta followed her in twenty minutes later. It was as dramatic a race as any of those in the ensuing years and its success 'set the seal' on one of the world's most gruelling races.

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.