The First Race, Tuesday, Sept. 7

The course chosen for the first race was the regular one of the New York Yacht Club, starting from buoy 18, New York harbor, and the same as the one sailed over by the Puritan and Genesta in the "inside" race of the previous year. Interest in yachting in general, and in this event in particular, had been intensified by the races of 1885, and throughout the country news of the progress of the struggle was eagerly sought.

Lord Dunraven says of the Thistle : "Thistle was built for the express purpose of sailing for the cup... She was built for the purpose and was the best thing we could turn out."
The money for building the new boat was subscribed by Messrs. John Clark, Commodore of the Royal Clyde Yacht Club, William Clark, Andrew Coates, William Coates, James Coates, George Coates, J. Hilliard, James Bell, Vice-Commodore of the Royal Clyde Yacht Club, and William Bell.

When the measurements of the Thistle became known, in the spring of 1887, Mr. Burgess immediately began work on the designs of a steel centre-board sloop of about the same water-line length as the Thistle, and General Paine immediately stepped to the front in defense of the Cup, and bore the entire expense of building and fitting out a yacht from the new designs.

Who is this genius?

And what his training that so peculiarly fitted him for his high estate? A Scotchman by birth, a sailor by nature, a grocer by early training, and navigator and helmsman of imperishable fame by dint of indomitable will, unequaled skill, infallible judgment, and an irrepressible love of boats and all that pertains to them.

Born in Oswego, New York, the artist at fifteen moved to New York City, training under the hand of the influential marine artist and yacht designer, Archibald Cary Smith.
After his formal training, Tyler fused his own very personal style into creating unified depictions of sea, sky and vessel, each put forth with equal expression.

Drawn to ships and the sea because of the timeless nature of its mystery and beauty, J. Franklin Wright has developed the mastery of the marine composition at its compelling best. Specializing in ship portraits, he is influential for his explorations into the sparsely documented history of Canada’s shipbuilding industry.