A special painting by an artist of note due to the quality of this work and the intense scarcity of his art, Franklyn Bassford nailed this portrait of the historic yacht CORONET. The 1885 Schooner Yacht is shown on a driven tack, with her New York Yacht Club Burgee and owner's private green-and-white signal with a star and crescent moon identifying Arthur James Curtis, her 1895 owner. It is a fluid, beautiful look at what is regarded as the last true American schooner yacht of the 19th Century to survive today, and as such is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. She was built by C. & R. Poillion of Brooklyn in 1885 for Rufus Bush, and is today owned by the International Yacht Restoration School of Newport, Rhode Island. A brief timeline of her accomplishments follows.
Under full sail, CORONET is commemorated here in the midst of a deep water cruise, on a direct commission for her owner. How is this known? Her three-flag International Signal Code message :RTM; basically telling the inward bound Red Star Passenger Steam Liner WESTERNLAND that CORONET is passing before her and requests the liner maneuver clear of the schooner. Otherwise, the larger vessel would hold the right of way at sea. It is a richly contrasted, detailed portrayal of a brief moment from the 122 years of the schooner's continuing history, captured by Bassford from life.
Schooner Yacht CORONET
1885 - Built by the Firm C. & R. Poillon of Brooklynfor Rufus T. Bush, N.Y.Y.C.; from the designs of Captain Christopher Crosby, A.Cary Smith & Terry, William Townsend and John Harvey.
Launched August 17, 1885. 133' L
Constructed of a white oak frame with yellow pine and oak planking; internally featuring mahogany-paneled staterooms, a marble-treaded staircase, and a main saloon that featured stain-glass doors, mirrors, gilded molding, a cloisonné chandelier, a tiled heating stove with a brass chimney, and a piano.
1887 - Victory in a Transatlantic Race with Caldwell Colt's Schooner DAUNTLESS, besting the schooner by more than 30 hours. The New York Yacht Club's representative onboard, Lieut. W.N. King took what are believed the first ever photographs of transatlantic racing.
1888 - First Two-Year Circumnavigation Cruise; from New York round Cape Horn to Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong and other Far East ports, returned to New York late 1889.
1890 - Sold to by Arthur E. Bateman.
1891 Sold to John D. Wing.
1893 - Sold to Arthur Curtis James
1896 - Amherst Eclipse Expedition from San Francisco to Japan and back, under the direction of Amherst College Astronomer David Peck Todd. Sailed nearly 40,000 miles on this expedition with the scientific crew and all their gear. The voyage's story was published in "Corona and Coronet" by Mabel Loomis Todd, the astronomer's wife, in 1898.
1898 - Sold to Fred S. Pearson.
1899 - Sold to John I. Waterbury.
1901- Sold to Louis Bossert.
1905 - Sold to "The Kingdom" non-denominational religious organizationfounded by Frank W. Sanford, whose organization owned and maintained CORONET for 90 years.
1905 - Second World circumnavigation, from Maine,including much of the Mid-East.
1907 - Third World Circumnavigation, from and to Maine,including Africa, Palestine and Newfoundland.
1995 - Donated by "The Kingdom" to the International Yacht Restoration School of Newport, Rhode Island; under-going complete restoration.
more information available online athttp://www.yachtcoronet.org/history.htm
