AMERICAN, MID-19TH CENTURY

In December 1866, the New York Yacht Club schooners Henrietta, Fleetwing and Vesta raced across the Atlantic from Sandy Hook to the Needles, Isle of Wight, England. The race was conceived at a lively October dinner at the Union Club by George Osgood, son-in-law of Commodore Vanderbilt and owner of Fleetwing, his brother Franklin, and Pierre Lorillard, Jr., owner of the Vesta. When James Gordon Bennett, Jr., owner of the Henrietta heard the idea, he requested and was granted permission to enter. Each ship owner contributed $30,000 toward the prize, and the stakes of the race totaled $90,000. Amidst a large fleet of spectator craft the three yachts crossed the starting line on December 11th at 1:00 pm on a cold clear day. Henrietta and Vesta followed modified great circle courses across the Grand Banks, while Fleetwing took a more southerly route. Henrietta finished on Christmas afternoon after a remarkably fast passage; Fleetwing and Vesta finished early the next day, only a few hours. James Gordon Bennett, Jr. was the only owner aboard his own yacht in this rigorous contest, for which he received much public acclaim. This victory likely aided his election to New York Yacht Club Commodore in 1871 when only twenty-six years old.