Yacht Sappho

This work depicts the American yacht, Sappho, racing to windward of two other schooner yachts. Built by Poillon Brothers of Brooklyn, New York and designed by William Townsend, in Sappho's first season she travelled across the Atlantic ocean to England in 1868. Her performance was disappointing, placing last against yachts such as Aline, Cambria, Condor and Oimara in a race around the Isle of Wight. When Sappho returned to New York she was sold to William P. Douglass, a member of the New York Yacht Club, who employed Captain Bob Fish to alter the yacht's design, improve her ballast and adjust the rig. Sappho returned to England in 1869, setting a record for the same trans-Atlantic voyage in only 12 days, 9 hours and 36 minutes. In 1870, while in England, Sappho won all of her races against James Ashbury's Cambria. In 1871, Sappho won the last two races for the America's Cup, standing in for a damaged Columbia, enabling the New York Yacht Club to retain America's Cup. In 1876, Sappho was sold to Prince Sciarra de Colonia who raced her in the French Riviera. She was acquired by George Marvin upon the prince's death and was sailed until 1887.