Description: John Steven Dews (British, b. 1949)
Endeavour crosses ahead; Valsheda and Endeavour racing 1999, Antigua Classics
Regatta
signed 'J. Steven Dews.' (lower left), inscribed as titled and
further inscribed 'To Kelly for all your friendship and kindess. J. Steven Dews
Dec. 1999' (on the stretcher)
oil on canvas
36 x 58 in. (91.4 x
147.3 cm.)
Notes: Endeavour was designed and built by
Camper & Nicholson to the order of Mr. T.O.M. Sopwith for his first America's
Cup Challenge in September 1934. Displacing 143 tons and measuring 129= feet in
length with a 22 foot beam, she carried 7,560 square feet of sail and was
considered the best 'J' boat of her day. Despite this, she narrowly failed to
wrest the 'Auld Mug' from the American defender Rainbow but nevertheless went
on to enjoy a highly successful career and is one of the only three J-class
yachts which have survived to ornament the contemporary racing scene.
Velsheda, another contemporary thoroughbred from the same yard and
designer, was built for Mr. W.L. Stephenson, the Chairman of Woolworth's (U.K.)
in 1933. Extremely fast, she was one of the legendary J-class yachts and even
beat the King's Britannia on one celebrated occasion. Apart from her glittering
career in the 1930s, during which she won many trophies for her owner, she now
shares the distinction - along with Shamrock V and Endeavour I of being one of
the three remaining J-class boats which have survived until the present day and
she is still racing competitively.
NOTES AMERICA-SCOOP :