26″ x 44″ Oil on Linen Panel

Chairman Edmund Lang signals a clean start of the fourth and decisive race of the New York Yacht Club‘s defense of the America's Cup off Newport, RI, 11:40 am, September 18th, 1930. The Club has chartered the New York Harbor tugboat SUSAN A MORAN to act as a Committee Boat for the summer trials and final competition between the two new J -Boats, Harold Vanderbilt‘s ENTERPRISE and Sir Thomas Lipton’s green-hulled SHAMROCK V. The day’s 30--mile triangular course has been determined just fifteen minutes prior; and is signaled to the boats with flags on three hoists just aft of the MORAN‘.s funnel. Reading from fore to aft; A-S-H first leg, west northwest); A-R-J (second leg, south by east) and finally A-Q-M (northeast by half east). Crew is stowing the blue and white cone preparatory five-minute signal which has just been replaced with the now-hoisted red start cylinder; and with the ship’s steam whistle, announces the start. The starting line is drawn between the white flag displayed on board the MORAN and the Americas Cup bony seen in the distance. Committee members Philip Mallory, leaning over the chart table holding a stopwatch, and Colgate Hoyt, bracing the start signal and with wind speed indicator in hand, pay close attention. Already up two in the best-of-five contest, ENTERPRISE will cross the finish line at 2:30 pm. five minutes ahead of SHAMROCK V and retain the cup for the Americans, first captured from the Brits in 1851.