signed 'J. Steven Dews' (lower left), inscribed with title on the reverse
oil on canvas
101.6 x 152.4 cm. (40 x 60 in.)
FOOTNOTES
Provenance :- acquired directly from the artist.
This classic Dews composition is one of two highly unusual works by the artist showing the same moment in the same race but painted from different viewpoints. The scene was Dartmouth in 1935 when, after comparatively light winds throughout the West Country Regatta, the last two days of August finally promised some boisterous weather to challenge the ‘Big Class’ boats, all of which were anxious to end the season with some really good sport.
On the morning of 30th August, the American yacht “Yankee”, especially keen to race despite the strong south-westerly blowing, eventually cajoled her five fellow competitors out onto the start-line only for the race to be abruptly stopped by officials who considered the conditions too dangerous to proceed. The next day, the 31st, dawned a little quieter but although the race committee allowed racing to go ahead, “Astra” and “Candida” remained at their moorings in the Dart believing conditions were no better than the previous day. Thus, with only four yachts left to compete in the final match of the year, Dews depicts “Shamrock” (J/K 3) on a port tack dipping behind “Endeavour” (J/K 4), with “Yankee” (J/US 2) nimbly away first over the start-line but only fractionally ahead of “Velsheda” (J/K 7). Straight after gybing around the first mark however, disaster struck; a sudden squall cannoned into “Yankee”, toppled her mast and flung two crew members into the sea. Although both men were quickly recovered, the accident completely disabled “Yankee” whereupon the other yachts immediately abandoned the race and put back into port.
“Endeavour”, built 1934, was the first of two successively named yachts owned by Mr. (later Sir) T.O.M. “Tommy” Sopwith with which he challenged, unsuccessfully, for the America’s Cup in 1934 and 1937.
“Shamrock”, or more correctly “Shamrock V”, was the last of Sir Thomas Lipton’s fleet of America’s Cup challengers built in 1930 and, by 1935, owned by Mr. C.R. Fairey.
“Velsheda”, built 1933, was owned by Mr. W.L. Stephenson (see notes to lot 143 for additional information).
“Yankee”, a big all-steel centre-board sloop of 136 tons, was built in Massachusetts in 1930 and owned, in 1935, by Gerald B. Lambert of Boston.
Literature: “A Cloud of Sail; Maritime Paintings by J. Steven Dews”, Louise A. Felstead, 2001, pp. 62-65.
NOTES AMERICA-SCOOP :