Lot 269: Shane Michael Couch (British, b. 1963)

Citizens cup race, Newport R.I., August 28th 1871 with Sappho, Columbia and Dauntless
signed 'Shane Michael Couch' (lower left)
oil on canvas
39 1/2 x 59 in. (100 x 150 cm.)

THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR

Columbia was built at Chester, Pennsylvania in 1871 as a centreboard schooner, with a length of 107feet 10in. overall and a 25= foot beam, Columbia was one of four schooners nominated by the New York Yacht Club to defend the 1871 America's Cup against Sir James Ashbury's Livonia. Regarded as the fastest schooner in America, Columbia had the duel distinction of being the first defender to concede a race to a challenger and holding the record for the fastest average speed attained by a yacht in the America's Cup until 1934.

Dauntless, 123 feet in length with a beam of 25 feet and 9 foot draught was originally built as a sloop in 1866, but redesigned as a schoner in 1870 for her new owner Commodore James Gordon Bennett. She was chosen to defend the America's Cup of 1871 against Livonia, but due to an accident before the start was replaced by Columbia.