At 8.37 pm the celebrated schooner "America" crosses the finish line to the sound of cannon fire from the Castle to win The Hundred Pound Cup, which later became known as The America's Cup.
The tide has turned against "America" as shown by the tide ripples around the finish mark/barrel. The small white cutter, "Wildfire"( unusual for the time as most were black), on the right hand side, taking down its mainsail, is also 'tide bound', although there is wind in the mainsail, She was an unofficial starter in the race( not allowed because of moveable ballast) and actually finished ahead of "America".
"America" has booms holding out both jib and foresail and a preventer rope holding her main boom out. Her extreme aft mast rake would otherwise cause all sails to fall into the centre line during the light running conditions. Conditions are cloudy, but a shaft of sunlight, from the setting sun, lights up the America and some of the shoreline.
A huge spectator fleet accompanied the racing yachts around the Isle of Wight and some can be seen surrounding "America". A paddle steamer, on the left hand side of the painting, is reversing to allow "America" sufficient room to pass. The foreshore, surrounding the Castle, is also crowded with spectators, who have come to see the finish and also enjoy the fireworks scheduled for 9pm.