Endeavor (K4) leads Yankee (US 2) in a relatively smooth sea but with a freshening wind which has caused a reef to be taken in the mainsails. Both set the double-clewed jib and are sailing at near maximum speed, judging by the bow and quarter waves. The shape of these is interesting: the bow wave of each yacht is almost identical in form, as is the following hollow as the water eddies around the lower bilge amidships.

The quarter waves rise and follow the counter in a similar way, but Endeavour appears to be "pulling" her wake along after her whereas Yankee's broader, American-style counter and differing afterbody seems to be allowing it to break away uo the centreline. American designers seemed to have long had the ability to create sterns which flattened the wakes of sailing craft and minimized the effect of the quarter waves, which can considerably slow a racing yacht. The photograph was taken in England in 1935.