Lot Essay
In a determined effort to win back the America's Cup, held by the Americans since its inception in 1851, the Earl of Dunraven commissioned George L. Watson to design Valkyrie II for him to mount a challenge in 1893. Built by D. & W. Henderson on the Clyde and registered at 95 tons, she measured 118 feet overall and was regarded as a serious adversary, the moment her opponents first saw her. They asked the great Nat Herreshoff to design and build Vigilant to defend the Cup and the two challengers proved extremely well matched. The races were run in October with Vigilant winning the series by the narrowest of margins.