the schooner Westward racing Sir Thomas Liptons 23m Shamrock of the eastern end of the Isle of Wight
The Great Herreshoff schooner Westward with Charlie Barr at the helm races Sir Thomas Liptons 23m Shamrock off the Eastern end of the Isle of Wight 1st Aug 1910
On the 1st of August 1910 the great Herreshoff schooner Westward with all sail set and with Charlie Barr at the Helm wins the opening race of Cowes week against Sir Thomas Lipton’s 23m Shamrock and the great German schooners Meteor iv and Germania.
When I read the details of this race my mind lit up as I knew the waters described so well. It vividly remined me of the final day of the Richard Mille Cup in 2023. The participating yachts including the great schooner Atlantic where to race from Cowes across the English Channel to Le Harve. Knowing these waters as I do, I knew that once they cleared the lee of the Eastern end of the Island of Wight and felt the breeze and meet the longer swells of the English Channel the yachts would suddenly heel over, and a great bow wave would build as they met the oncoming seas. All the other chase and press boats had long since departed when the yachts got to me where I waited with my wife Caroline in my boat. As expected, I was treated to a breath-taking spectacle as first one then all the yachts heeled to the breeze sending spray flying high over their bows, all set against the beautiful backdrop of the Eastern end of The isle of Wight and a sparkling blue green sea. Such memories never leave you and this painting is the result.
Westward was Herreshoff’s third and most famous schooner. After the untimely death of her first Captain, Charlie Barr in January 1911 she returned to America where she raced her younger sister Elena and won the Astor Cup.
In 1912 she was bought by a syndicate of Hamburg merchants. Renamed Hamburg 11 and painted black she saw out the last of the pre-war years in German waters weighed down with unnecessary weight in the form of extra cabin furniture including a Piano.
After the war she was purchased by Mr Clarence Hatry an English financier as a war prize and restored to her original name and trim. In 1924 Westward was purchased by T.B Davis a self-made man and ex-stevedore. Under Davises ownership Westward would become famous having a very active racing career with the English Big class throughout 1920s and 30s with a particularly keen rivalry with the Kings Britannia.
With the death of her owner in 1942 Westward was scuttled off the Skerries rocks on July 15th 1947.
The 23m Shamrock, owned by Sir Thomas Lipton but not to be confused with Sir Thomas Lipton’s America’s Cup challengers was one of three 23m yachts built to the new international rule in 1906. It was hoped that the new yachts combining speed with reasonable accommodation would revive racing yacht building after years of stagnation. Shamrock would have a very active racing career upto the war and throughout the 1920s.
Both the German schooners Meteor iv and Germania would have active racing seasons in both British and German waters right up to the first world war.
Specifications
Westward
Steel keel schooner owned by Alexander S Cochran. Designed by Nat Herreshoff and built by the Herreshoff Company, Bristol, Rhode Island 1910
Length, over-all…………………………………………..………..…..………..135ft
Length, waterline………………………………….……………….……..96ft 1inch
Beam…………………………………………………………….……..………27ft 1 inch
Draft………………………………………………………………..……..…….16ft 9inch
Displacement……………………………………..…………..…………..…..323tons
Rig height………………………………………………………..…………..……….126ft
Spinnaker boom…………………………………………….………..……………..67ft
Boom …………………………………………………………..……………..………….75ft
Sail Area……………………………………………………………..………..12,000sq.ft.
Shamrock 23m
Keel cutter owned by Sir Thomas Lipton. Designed by William Fife jr and built by Fairlie. 1908
Length, over-all………………………………………….……….…………………..113ft
Length, waterline……………………………………….…………..………..75ft 9inch
Beam……………………………………………………….………………………21ft 5 inch
Draft………………………………………………………….……...………….14ft 1.5 inch
Displacement………………………………………………..…………..………..122 tons
Sail Area……………………………………………………..…………..………..9,848sq.ft.
Meteor iv
Keel schooner owned by HIM Kaiser Wilhelm 11. Designed by Max Oertz and built by Krupps Germania Werft 1909
Length, over-all………………………………………….……….….……..54ft 10 inch
Length, waterline……………………………………….…………..…..104ft 11 inch
Beam……………………………………………………….…………..…………26ft 9 inch
Draft…………………………………………………………...……….………………….18ft
Sail Area…………………………………………………………….……………..13,719.ft.
Germania
Keel schooner owned by Herr Krpp Von Bohlen und Halbach . Designed by Max Oertz and built by Krupps Germania Werft 1908
Length, over-all………………………………………….……………….….……..122ft
Length, waterline……………………………………….…………..……………..107ft
Beam………………………………………………………………………….……27ft 2inch
Draft………………………………………………………………...………...…17ft 9 inch
Displacement………………………………………………..……..…….……..368 tons
Sail Area…………………………………………………………….…………..14,133sq.ft.
