Charles J Lundgren (New York, Connecticut, 1911 – 1988)
“America’s Cup-Vigilant” Original Oil on masonite painting. Signed lower right.
In 1893, the distinguished Earl of Dunraven of the Royal Yacht Squadron of England filed a challenge to the America’s Cup. Born in Ireland and educated at Oxford, the Earl was a diplomat under Lord Salisbury. He was well-liked in America and his fast, sleek boat, the Valkyrie II posed a serious threat to America’s Cup defenders. Fortunately, Nathanael Herreshoff of Bristol, then a young and daring designer, came to the rescue. His yacht, the Vigilant, was the first large yacht to be constructed of Tobin bronze. Her overall length was 124 feet and her waterline length was 86 feet 2 inches. She displaced 96.18 tons of water. The beam was 26 feet 3 inches and she held a sail area of 11,272 square feet. When the abnormally large crew of 70 men was stretched out on the weather edge of her wide deck, it added much to the Vigilant’s ability to carry sail. But still the race was close. Vigilant had three races to win. The match was the best three out of five. The first two, she won. But in the third, Valkyrie II was well in the lead when she blew out two spinnakers. And, in one of the most exciting races in America’s Cup history, Vigilant emerged victorious by a mere 40 seconds. Herreshoff went on to design the next five America’s Cup champions, extending America’s possession for the next 27 years. Soon, his fame spread around the world and he became known everywhere as “the Wizard of Bristol.”
Overall Size: 25 x 26 in.