Lot 340: Robert Taylor Pritchett (1828-1907) America Cup

Robert Taylor Pritchett (1828-1907) America Cup Race. October 13th 1893 - The Start at Sandy Hook 'Valkyrie' and 'Vigilant Weather' inscribed as titled on the reverse with artists's name and address as 21 Cumberland Road, Holland Park, London further monogrammed and dated 1893 on a label with the painting watercolour on canvas backed paper 52 x 68cm. * Exhibited at The Imperial Institute Yachting and Fisheries Exhibition, 1897. The 1893 America's Cup Challenge was contested between Vigilant and Valkyrie II. The Vigilant was commissioned by a syndicate headed by C. Oliver Iselin for the New York Yacht Club. The designer was the famous 'father of modern boat design', Nathaniel G Herreshoff from Bristol, Rhode Island. At 126 feet she was the smaller of the two yachts. Valkyrie II was commissioned by Lord Dunraven for The Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes. The designer was George L. Watson. She was 133 feet in length with a smaller sail area of 10,000 sq. feet. The five race series was closely contested. Valkyrie II crossed the Atlantic in September 1893 and the first race took place on 7th October. Vigilant won by seven 5 minutes 48 seconds and on 9th October took the second race by 10 minutes 35 seconds. The third and final race took place on the 13th October. It became the most hotly contested in the history of the America's Cup, to be won by Vigilant, coming from behind to win by the narrowest of margins, just 40 seconds. The New York Times called it 'probably the greatest battle of sales that was ever fought'.