Catalog entry

Commentary

In early August, 1856, Lane took time out from his excursion to Maine to go to New Bedford, where the New York Yacht Club was holding a regatta – its second for the season and its first in Massachusetts waters. The reasons for this expedition have not come to light, nor has any collaboration there between Lane and Bradford been found. Participants were entered in three classes based on vessel size, the smallest starting first; the largest, last. (1)

The subject of this essay’s painting is the finish of the race, the sloop “Julia” having crossed the finish line and started to lower her racing sails. Approaching the finish line (in order) are the sloop “Widgeon,” the schooner “Haze,” and the schooner “Favorita.” When time allowances were factored in, the order was “Julia” first, “America” second, and “Widgeon” third. (2)

The schooner “Emblem,” probably a working vessel in the coastal trade, was chosen to serve as the race committee boat, marking one end of the starting and finish line(s). The black dinghy to her right is anchored to mark the finish line’s other end. To the far right is a local sloop serving as a “party boat” for a small group of spectators. A far larger audience has lined the rails of the side-wheel steamer “Eagle’s Wing” at far left. A second steamer, further away in the left background,  was probably also engaged to bring spectators for enjoyment of the regatta.

The regatta started at 11:00 a.m. in New Bedford Harbor, tacking out of the harbor before crossing Buzzard’s Bay close-hauled to the first stake boat off Quick’s Hole in the Elizabeth Islands. Turning briefly west-south-west toward Robinson’s Hole, the yachts then headed west toward the outer stake boat, which was anchored midway between Sow and Pigs lightship and the Old Cock spindle on Hen and Chickens Reef. From there, it was a run to New Bedford and the finish line, passing or skirting an assortment of rocks and ledges on the way. In the painting’s distant right is Clark’s Point Lighthouse at the western entrance to New Bedford Harbor – a beacon long welcomed by returning ships of New Bedford’s whaling fleet. (3)

–Erik Ronnberg

References:

1. Richard C. Kugler, “William Bradford: Sailing Ships & Arctic Seas” (Seattle, WA and London: New Bedford Whaling Museum and University of Washington Press, 2003), pp. 8, 9, 67, 103, 104, 105.

2. “The U.S. Nautical Monthly Magazine and Naval Journal”, Vol V  (New York: Oliver W. Griffiths, 1856), pp. 16-18.

3. Robert Bennet Forbes, “Regatta at New Bedford, Massachusetts, 8 August, 1856” (Salem, MA: “The American Neptune”, Vol. X, 1950), pp. 231-234.

Diagram showing presumed course of race. 

Times are taken from Robert Bennet Forbes' account of the Regatta. 

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