In the annual cruise of principle members of the New York Yacht Club and invited guests from the Eastern Yacht Club and others, the racing yachts would make pilgrimages to such places as Cape May, New London, New Bedford, and here to the yachting bastion of Newport, Rhode Island. From left to right are yachts DAUNTLESS, GOSSOON, SACHEM, CONSTELLATION and FORTUNA. A large commercial barque leaves the Catbrells Shipyard under tug power and a clean white cutter looks on from the docks at the big racing schooners.
It is a beautifully rendered and thought out composition by Shane. Each ship is a masterwork painting unto itself, with rig and deck details carried to perfection. Men and women on board in active leisure mark this as a cruising stage, in preparation for race activities. The city itself is well featured, with several of its landmark churches and waterfront represented. The principle competition of the harbor would be the Goelet Cup, held off Newport, Road Island annually since the first race in 1882. They competed for a N.Y.Y.C. perpetual trophy and custom trophy cups designed by Tiffany & Co. of New York with a $1,000 prize each for the winning sloop and schooner.
The large schooner FORTUNA would earn her greatest fame winning the Goelet Cup in 1885, and a victory in a Sweepstakes Match in 1889 for $1000 against DAUNTLESS and PALMER. Designed for Commodore Henry S. Hovey of the Eastern Yacht Club by the renown A.C. Smith, she launched out of the C & R Poillon Brooklyn Yard in 1883 at an impressive 109-plus foot length overall.
