A strange couple defied the N.Y.Y.C.

At the conclusion of the races of Puritan and Genesta, the New York Yacht Club took up the challenge of Lieut. William Henn of the Galatea, and at a meeting held October 22d, 1885, definitely accepted it, fixing the races for the following year. The conditions arranged for the races were practically the same as those in the 1885 series.

As more than a year was to intervene between the conclusion of the negotiations and the sailing of the races, the American public held great expectations as to the character of the yachts that should be built to compete.

Since the introduction of bronze and other expensive metals in the building of cup defenders, only the richest could afford to order them.

When the measurements of the Thistle became known, in the spring of 1887, Mr. Burgess immediately began work on the designs of a steel centre-board sloop of about the same water-line length as the Thistle, and General Paine immediately stepped to the front in defense of the Cup, and bore the entire expense of building and fitting out a yacht from the new designs.

Gallery "Sir Thomas Lipton"

Sir Thomas Lipton bequeathed his collection of photographs, newspaper cuttings and memorabilia to the Mitchell Library where it is still housed. In 1999, the collection was showing signs of degradation and conservation was required. Unilever, who now own the Lipton brand, were approached and funded the conservation and digitisation costs.

Born in Wivenhoe in 1850, John Carter began sailing at a young age aboard "smacks", the typical fishing boats of Rowhedge and its neighbourhood. At the age of 22, he helmed small yachts and in 1875, he distinguished himself as the skipper of the 10-ton Lancer and later of the 110-ton cutter Moina.
His reputation led to him taking command of the Genesta, the English challenger for the fifth America's Cup. The American yacht Puritan won the first race.

Thomas Fairland (1804 – October 1852) was an English lithographer, engraver and portrait painter.
Fairland showed an early interest in drawing and practiced from nature in Kensington Gardens in London.

Sir Oswald Walters Brierly (1817 - 14 December 1894), English marine painter, who came of an old Cheshire family, was born at Chester.
Brierly entered Sass's art-school in London, and after studying naval architecture at Plymouth he exhibited some drawings of ships at the Royal Academy in 1839.