Race of a Century by John Mecray, signed

This print of the painting 'The Race of a Century' is a limited edition signed copy by artist John Mecray. Published by the Herreshoff Marine Museum, Bristol, Rhode Island, in a signed limited edition of 750. Measures 38 inches wide x 25 inches high. Copyright 1986.

Captain Nat Herreshoff steers "Vigilant" past "Valkyrie II" in the climactic America's Cup Race of 1893. "Valkyrie II" afterguard and crew executed daring maneuvers to set full sail. Four men aloft and one cutting reef lashings on the heaving main boom enabled the 128 foot sloop to fly spinnaker, balloon staysail, club topsail and full main, a total of 21,148 square feet of canvas. "Valkyrie II" with reefed main and tattered spinnaker was left in the wake of "Vigilant" in her wild dash before the raging wind and sea. The America's Cup was successfully defended by unprecedented seamanship in the most notable yacht race of the nineteenth century.