Vigilant and Valkyrie in a "Thrash to Windward"

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Vigilant and Valkyrie in a "Thrash to Windward"

Publisher Currier & Ives

Artist Unknown Artist

Period1893

MediumChromolithograph on paper

Dimensions18.5 × 25 in. (47 × 63.5 cm)

InscribedInscribed lower right, "COPYRIGHT 1893, BY CURRIER & IVES, 115 NASSAU ST. NEW YORK." The name "Vigilant" is printed lower center under the lead vessel, and "Valkyrie" to its right under the trailing vessel. Captioned lower center margin in large letters, "VIGILANT and VALKYRIE in a "THRASH to WINDWARD." / In their International Race for "The America's Cup" Oct. 7th 9th & 13th 1893."

SignedSigned lower left, "PUBLISHED BY CURRIER & IVES, 115 NASSAU ST. NEW YORK."

ClassificationsPrints

Credit LineGift of Andrew Varick Stout and Bernon S. Prentice, 1933

Object number368

DescriptionA fully rigged racing yacht with a white hull and all sails set figures prominently in the center of the scene, followed a second racing yacht with a black hull. Both vessels are headed from right to left in a choppy sea under a partly cloudy sky. A tugboat flying an American flag appears in the distance between the two yachts, and a single stack steamboat in the extreme right edge surrounded by other vessels.
NotesVigilant was the victorious United States defender of the eighth America's Cup in 1893 against British challenger Valkyrie II. Vigilant was designed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff and built in 1893 by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol, Rhode Island. She was Herreshoff's first victorious America's Cup defender design. Vigilant was a centerboard sloop with all-metal construction. She was owned by a syndicate led by Charles Oliver Iselin, and was skippered by Herreshoff himself. Launched on June 14, 1893, Vigilant beat Colonia, Jubilee, and Pilgrim to win the 1893 American selection trials for the America's Cup defense. In the 1893 America's Cup, Vigilant faced Lord Dunraven's British keel cutter Valkyrie II in a best three out of five races format sailed on alternating courses. The races were held on October 7, 9, and 13, 1893 off Sandy Hook, Monmouth County. The first and third races were 15 miles to windward off Scotland Lightship and return to leeward. The second race was a 30-mile equilateral triangle. In the first race on October 7, Vigilant crossed the finish line seven minutes ahead of Valkyrie II, or 8 minutes 48 seconds in corrected time. In the second race on October 9, Vigilant beat Valkyrie II by 12 minutes 30 seconds—10 minutes 35 seconds in corrected time. In the third race on October 13, 1893, Lord Dunraven was facing elimination but was certain the Valkyrie II could equal or better Vigilant in the strong breeze. At the finish, Vigilant beat Valkyrie II by 40 seconds in corrected time to successfully defend the cup. The World reported it as the fastest race ever sailed, over a course of 15 miles to windward and return under reefed sail and a gale. In 1894, Vigilant was bought by Howard Gould and became the first America's Cup defender to sail in Europe for the British yachting season. From 1896 to 1910, Vigilant had six different owners. The vessel was broken up at a New London, CT, scrapyard in 1910.

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