Flying Home

Nathanael Herreshoff’s third design to defend the America’s Cup was evolutionary. The 132 ft. yacht Columbia is pictured here during the summer of 1899 in her trials against Nathanael’s previous Cup defender, which had been prophetically named Defender. J.P. Morgan’s steam yacht Corsair shadows the action, carrying observers from the New York Yacht Club. Columbia will go on to be selected, and in October of 1899 successfully defend the Cup off Long Island against Sir Thomas Lipton’s first Shamrock. John’s portrait of the great racing sloop captures her just as an unnoticed shift rolls her to leeward while flying downwind with a full compliment of sails, backlit and glowing in the sunlight.

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