Description: Mayflower and Galatea neck and neck during the America's Cup Race of 1886; the first race
signed and dated 'A. Jacobsen/1887' (lower right)
oil on canvas
10 x 16 in. (25.5 x 40.5 cm.)
painted in 1887

Notes: The America's Cup of 1886 pitted the American defender Mayflower against the British challenger Galatea, representing the Royal Northern yacht Club in a best of three races.

This painting by Antonio Jacobsen depicts the first race on 7 September 1886 shortly after the start as Mayflower works her way to windward of Galatea in a moderate southerly. The race was over the New York Yacht Club course, 32.6 miles in length. Mayflower won by 12 minutes and 2 seconds. Mayflower easily won the second race on 11 September in what turned out to be a light and shifty air race. The yacht Mayflower was designed by Edward Burgess for the owner Charles J. Paine of Boston, and had an LOA of 100ft. The yacht Galatea was designed by J. Beavor Webb for the owner William Henn, and had an LOA of 103ft.