Yankee racing during a gale off Southend in 1935. This photograph by Douglas Went strongly expresses the speed and power of a large racing yacht in a strong wind. Yankee has one reef in her mainsail and only a small staysail set forward . It is almost possible to hear the surge, hum and whistle of the rig above the crash of small seas tramped under the long, out-reaching bow, and one can almost feel the vibrating thrum of the weather shifting backstay whose runner block is visible just above the leech of the mainsail. The lee shifter and runner hang slack.

The owner stands at the wheel giving her a spoke this way or that. The deck is swept and saturated with spray and all hands are probably glad that the day's racing is almost over, even though she will then have to anchor in the rough, exposed tideway off Southend Pier, with the rest of the class, the 12 meters and attending sailing and motor yachts.