At 338 tons, Westward was one of the largest racing schooners and was designed and built by the celebrated Nat Herreshof at Rhode Island in 1910. Often referred to as the "Herreshof Flyer", she was probably the most famous schooner sailing in European waters and her career lasted well into the 1930,s. During her first season under Charlie Barr in 1910, she won eleven firsts in as many starts when pitted against schooners such as Germania,Susanne and the Kaiser's yacht Meteor. In fact, the Kaiser became so enamoured of Westward that he encouraged a syndicate of German businessmen to buy her and they renamed her Hamburg. Sold out of German ownership after the Great War, she was bought first by the American Clarence Hatry - who promptly restored her original name - and then, in 1924, by Mr. T.B.F. Davis. Davis, a passionate enthusiast, soon developed a friendly rivalry with King George V in Britannia and the two men regularly challenged each other at Cowes over ten years. Westward continued to race for a while after Britannia was scuttled in 1936 on the late King's instructions, but Davis's heart was not in it after the death of his rival. In 1938 Westward was offered to various institutions with the strict proviso that she be properly maintained, but the general shortage of capital in the post-war world meant that no-one would accept her. Eventually running out of prospective recipients, the Davis family reluctantly came to the conclusion that they would have to invoke the final clause in Davis's will stating that if Westward could not be found an owner who would cherish her that she - like Britannia - was to be scuttled. On 15 July 1947 the magnificent schooner was towed out to the Hurd Deep off the Casquets and sunk with explosives, a sad though perhaps appropriate end for one of the greatest yachts of the century.
For further information about Westward and Britannia, see notes to lot .