The Great Ocean Yacht Race Between the Henrietta, Fleetwing & Vesta–The "Good Bye" to the Yacht Club Steamer "River Queen," 4 miles East of Sandy Hook Light Ship, Dec. 11th, 1866

This print features three schooners --the "Henrietta," the "Fleetwing," and the "Vesta"-- as they started out on December 11, 1866 under the auspices of the New York Yacht Club-- to sail for the Isle of Wight on the first transatlantic yacht race.

According to popular ship lore, the origins of ocean yacht racing as a sport can be traced back to an evening in October 1866, when three wealthy American yacht owners --Pierre Lorillard, George Osgood and James Gordon Bennett Jr. (son of the publisher of The New York Herald)-- boasted about the speed of their respective schooners. By the end of their alcohol-fueled debate, the three had agreed to a dangerous race across the north Atlantic in winter. Each man would contribute $30,000 to the prize for the "Great Ocean Yacht Race," and the winner would take all. Bennett was the only owner to participate in the race aboard his yacht the "Henrietta," while the two others remained ashore as their captains raced their ships. The freezing conditions of the journey were exceedingly harsh; walls of water swept over the decks of the three yachts, resulting in the tragic loss of several "Fleetwing" crew members. For almost two weeks, the three ships raced through the treacherous waves in close competition. As the trio approached England, Bennett's "Henrietta," which had been lagging behind, managed to take the lead to win the race on December 25, 1866 with a time of thirteen days and twenty-two hours (as this print's inscription declares). The "Fleetwing" arrived eight hours later, followed shortly thereafter by the "Vesta." Although the three yacht owners's display of bravado resulted in the unfortunate loss of life, the race also launched a new era of boating competition. Within months, Currier & Ives had produced this print and related one to capitalize on the international fame this competitive race had brought to American yacht owners and builders.

Nathaniel Currier, whose successful New York-based lithography firm began in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life and its history. People eagerly acquired such lithographs featuring picturesque scenery, rural and city views, ships, railroads, portraits, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments. As the firm expanded, Nathaniel included his younger brother Charles in the business. In 1857, James Merritt Ives (the firm's accountant since 1852 and Charles's brother-in-law) was made a business partner; subsequently renamed Currier & Ives, the firm continued until 1907.