signed lower right: "J.E. Buttersworth"
oil on
canvas
20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 cm.)
Provenance a private
collection
with Quester Gallery, Greenwich, Conn.
the
current owner
Vigilant was designed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff
and built in 1893 by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol, Rhode
Island. Vigilant was a centerboard sloop with all-metal (steel and bronze)
construction. She was owned by a syndicate led by Charles Oliver Iselin and she
was skippered by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff. Launched on June 14, 1893,
Vigilant beat Colonia, Jubilee, and Pilgrim to win the 1893 American selection
trials for the America's Cup defense.
In the 1893 America's
Cup Vigilant faced Lord Dunraven's British keel cutter Valkyrie II in a best
three out of five races format sailed on alternating courses. The races were
sailed October 7, 9, and 13, 1893 off Sandy Hook, New Jersey. In the first race
on October 7, in light air, Valkyrie II won the start by 15 seconds and one boat
length. At the first mark, Vigilant held a nine-minute lead. Vigilant crossed
the finish line 7 minutes ahead of Valkyrie II. In the second race on October 9,
Vigilant won the start by 5 seconds, but Valkyrie II worked out to an early lead
of 5 boat lengths in a building breeze. By the first mark, Vigilant held a five
minute lead and worked out to a 9 minute lead at the second mark. At the finish
Vigilant beat Valkyrie II by 12 minutes 30 seconds. In the third race on October
13, 1893, Lord Dunraven, was facing elimination but was certain the Valkyrie II
could equal or better Vigilant in the strong breeze. Valkyrie II led the
windward leg, but lost a spinnaker at the two-thirds point of the downwind run.
At the finish, Vigilant beat Valkyrie II by 40 seconds in corrected time to
successfully defend the cup. The World reported it as the fastest race ever
sailed, over a course of 15 miles to windward and return under reefed sail and a
gale. Vigilant was Herreshoff's first victorious America's Cup
design.
In 1894 Vigilant was bought by Howard Gould and
became the first America's Cup defender to sail in Europe for the British
yachting season. Vigilant raced in the defender trials for the 1895 America's
Cup won by Defender. From 1896 to 1910 Vigilant had six different owners the
last of whom was William Iselin who sailed her from 1906 until 1910. Vigilant
was broken up at a New London junkyard in 1910.
NOTES AMERICA-SCOOP :