Lot Essay
As two of the most famous racing yachts of the 1890's, Vigilant and Britannia found themselves perfectly matched in many memorable races.
Vigilant, 96 tons, was designed and built by the great Nat Herreshoff for a wealthy American syndicate headed by C. Oliver Iselin. Ordered in response to Lord Dunraven's 1892 challenge for the America's Cup, Vigilant won all three of the races in October 1893 to retain the trophy in one of the closest finishes in the race's history (see lot 649 for further details). After this triumph, she crossed the Atlantic for the 1894 Season at Cowes and there encountered Britannia against which she would sail so often in the coming years. Many yachtsmen of the day considered her to be Britannia's most worthy adversary and their duels were still being talked of long after the Prince of Wales had sold his yacht in response to the Kaiser's obsessive jealousy.
For details of Britannia, see lot 635.
Vigilant, 96 tons, was designed and built by the great Nat Herreshoff for a wealthy American syndicate headed by C. Oliver Iselin. Ordered in response to Lord Dunraven's 1892 challenge for the America's Cup, Vigilant won all three of the races in October 1893 to retain the trophy in one of the closest finishes in the race's history (see lot 649 for further details). After this triumph, she crossed the Atlantic for the 1894 Season at Cowes and there encountered Britannia against which she would sail so often in the coming years. Many yachtsmen of the day considered her to be Britannia's most worthy adversary and their duels were still being talked of long after the Prince of Wales had sold his yacht in response to the Kaiser's obsessive jealousy.
For details of Britannia, see lot 635.