Clash of thee Titans AVAILABLE
A clash of Titans, Ingomar with Charlie Barr at the helm engages in a winner takes all battle with the German Kaisers Meteor iii
Oil on canvas 40x60 inches
It was during reading an account of Ingomar’s campaign in European waters in 1904 that I became interested in the clash of these two great yachts and the two powerful personalities that raced them.
Ingomar was the first of Nat Herreshoff’s famous schooners built in 1903 and Meteor was the German Kaisers pride and joy built in 1902 and designed by A Cary Smith one of Americas pre-eminent designers. Upon seeing Ingomar for the first time the Kaiser is reported to have remarked to a representative of the New York Yacht Club who was on board Ingomar at the time, that they had sent over a Cup boat to race him so much a pure racer she appeared.
To race Ingomar her owner, Morton F Plant, had hired Capt Charlie Barr. Barr had captained both Columbia and Reliance to victory in the 1899,1901 and 1903 America’s Cup. Barr was renowned for being a strong-minded competitor who liked to intimidate his opponents taking any sign of as an opportunity to exploit. Coming up against the German Kaiser who was equally strong willed was bound to lead to some close very intense moments, none more so than the famous “Port and Starboard” incident that very nearly ended the German Kaisers reign. The incident fully described in “All Hands to the Mainsheet” by Heckstall Smith has Ingomar on starboard tack and right of way meeting the German Kaisers Meteor on port. The rule clearly states Starboard has right of way but the Kaiser accustomed to getting his own way, refused to give way, only doing so at the last possible moment when it was clear Charlie Barr was going to drive Ingomar’s bowsprit right through Meteor’s beam sending her to the bottom along with her illustrious owner.
Inspired by these stories I had two depict these two great personalities locked in a close battle, so I had to depict the yachts close up. To get a feel for the two yachts I built my customary 1/30th scale models of both yachts. It was then when I placed the model’s side by side that descriptions of these two yachts came alive. The sheer scale of Meteor 111 when compared to Ingomar’s was so noticeable making these battles even more remarkable.
Throughout the season Ingomar repeatedly defeated Meteor boat for boat. Only a stiff breeze and a long reach would see Meteor out distance Ingomar but then not by the distance expected.
After her successful season in Europe Ingomar returned to America where she continued to race with great success. After the first world war she was converted into an auxiliary schooner and was used as a cruiser.
The Kaiser was so impressed with Ingomar that he placed an order with Herreshoff for a new schooner. Unfortunately, the two clashed over details and Herreshoff refused the order. The Kaiser would have to wait until 1909 to get his new schooner this time from a German designer. Meteor 111 continued to race under the Kaisers colours until replaced by the new Meteor iv. Meteor 111 renamed Nordstern continued to race against her former owner up to the first world war.
Ingomar
Steel keel schooner owned by Morton F Plant. Designed by Nat Herreshoff and built by the Herreshoff Company, Bristol, Rhode Island 1903
Specifications
Length, over-all……………………………………………………..…..………..122ft
Length, waterline………………………………….……………….……….……..88ft
Beam……………………………………………………………………………24ft 4 inch
Draft………………………………………………………………..……..…….16ft 8inch
Displacement……………………………………..…………..……………...248 tons
Rig height…………………………………………………………………..…..…….126ft
Spinnaker boom…………………………………………………..………….……..67ft
Boom …………………………………………………………..…….……….………….75ft
Sail Area………………………………………………………..……………..11,520sq.ft.
Meteor iii
Keel schooner owned by HIM Kaiser Wilhelm 11. Designed by A Cary Smith and built by Townsend and Downey, Shooters Island 1902
Specifications
Length, over-all………………………………………….……….….……..161ft 1 inch
Length, waterline…………………………………….…………..……...120ft 1 inch
Beam……………………………………………………….……………..……………27 inch
Draft………………………………………………………….………...…………….15ft inch
Displacement………………………………………………..……..………..346.12 tons
Sail Area……………………………………………………..……………..…..11,611sq.ft.
