Columbia vs Defender racing off Oyster Bay
Sept 13th 1899
After a very competitive season Nat Herreshoff’s new 90 footer Columbia with Charlie Barr at the helm had been selected to defend the America’s Cup against Sir Thomas Lipton’s first Shamrock.
The painting depicts Columbia and the 1895 America’s Cup victor Defender racing off Oyster Bay in a stiff Breeze. Although unsuccessful in her bid to defend the 1899 America’s Cup Defender was made available by her owners in the weeks before the Cup matches against Shamrock to help tune up Columbia to the peak of performance.
Columbia went on to easily defend the America’s Cup against Shamrock winning 4 straight races
Specifications. Defender Columbia
Year Built 1895 1899
Length overall. 123ft 3 inches 131ft
Length Waterline. 89 feet 89ft 9inches
Beam. 23ft 24ft
Draft 19ft 19ft 9inches
Sail area 13,480sqft 13,880