Battle for Defence

Oil on canvas 60x60 inches

Battle for Selection Aug 27 1934

The painting depicts Rainbow and Yankee shortly after the start of the 5th trial race to select the Yacht to defend the Americas Cup against Endeavour in 1934. With Weetamoe having been eliminated it was now a Battle of Selection between Yankee and Rainbow.

Yankee with her extensive modifications had dominated the early part of the season defeating the newly built Rainbow on every occasion. The hopes of her syndicate were very high that she would be selected. Her winning streak continued in the opening runs of the New York Yacht Club and she had continued to dominate. In strong contrast spirits on Rainbow had hit an all-time low halfway through the cruise when it was decided to take drastic action and add a substantial amount of to lead to her keel in a last ditched attempt to improve her performance.

Immediately her improved performance was remarkable, she won the next two races from Yankee and went into the final trials with hopes revived.

Although Yankee had dominated the season, she had not yet raced in the heavy weather conditions that could be expected at the time of the Cup races, The selection committee needed to see that her performance in such condition had not been compromised by the modifications made at the start of the season. Unfortunately, when the hoped-for conditions arrived on Aug. 30th she was defeated by the improved Rainbow. In the final trial race, the following day after a remarkably close race she was defeated by just 1 second and Rainbow was selected to defend the America’s Cup. Rainbows was selected largely because it was felt she was the better all-round performer and with Yankees occasional gear failure she was the safer choice.

In the hotly contested Americas Cup races that followed Rainbow found herself 2.0 down in the contest, outclassed by a faster boat. Her Captain and syndicate head turned to Yankee’s afterguard to help improve her down wind performance and use of the new Parachute spinnakers With true patriotic help of Yankees afterguard Rainbow went on to win the next 4 races and retain the Americas Cup.

When talk of a new challenge was received in 1936 Rainbow along with Weetamoe and Yankee were put in commission and enjoyed some very close racing during the 1936 season. She again competed for the right to defend the Americas Cup in 1937 but like every other J Class yacht was completely out classed by the new J Ranger.

Like Yankee her long-time rival she was laid up at Lawleys and broken up as part of the war effort in 1940.

In 2012 a new Replica was built and now under New Zealand ownership can be seen racing in the Mediterranean against a resurgent J Class fleet.

Rainbow vs Yankee

Battle for Defense 1934