The Puritan and Genesta Race

In this highly dramatic composition, Edward Moran depicts a moment from the famous America's Cup Race of 1885 between the American cutter The Puritan and Britain's Genesta. "The Puritan, a 94 foot cutter designed by Edward Burgess, defeated Genesta, designed by J. Beavor Webb and owned by Sir Richard Sutton. It was the closest match yet, with Genesta winning the first race after her mainsail was punctured by Puritan's lengthy bowsprit. However, Sutton, a noted sportsman, asked that the race be dismissed, not wanting to claim such an easy victory. Puritan, owned by a Boston-based syndicate headed by General Charles Paine, then won the next two races, but the second one was the closest race to date: a mere 1 minute, 30 seconds separated the two sailboats." (AmericaOne, "History of the America's Cup", internet site, www.ac2000.org)