Two Norman Wilkinson drawings of the International Races, Cowes, 1921

Two Norman Wilkinson drawings of the International Races, Cowes, 1921

2nd International 6 metre Race, Cowes 1.8.21

A Norman Wilkinson pencil drawing showing ‘Heather’ leading a fleet which includes .1. I. Jeanie, 2 Britannia, Nyria, Terpsicore, Brynhild, 3. Grebe, 16. Jean 5. Victoria, 10. Polly, Moonbeam, 4. Sheila, 13 inscribed in pencil ‘2nd International 6 metre Race, Cowes 1.8.21, standing out to E. Lepe on first leg Wind S.W.  Big cutters before the wind on second leg.’  The reverse ink stamped ‘Norman Wilkinson, C.B.E., P.R.I., R.O.I., R.B.A., R.S.M.A., (1878-1971) From His Sketch Book’.  English, 1921.

Height: 8in (20cm) Width: 12 ¼ in (31cm) Framed height: 15 ¼ in (39cm) Width: 19 ½ in (49.5cm)

International 6 metre Races, Cowes 1.8.21: ‘Greta’ leading through the Fleet, Aug. 5th,

This preparatory pencil sketch shows ‘Greta’, on port tack, threading her way through anchored steam yachts, naval battleships and spectator craft towards a chequered navigation buoy. The reverse ink stamped ‘Norman Wilkinson, C.B.E., P.R.I., R.O.I., R.B.A., R.S.M.A., (1878-1971) From His Sketch Book’. English, 1921.

Height: 6 ¾ in (17cm) Width: 11 ¾ in (30cm) Framed height: 14¼ in (36.5cm) Width: 19 in (48.5cm)

Footnote: The British American series of races were inaugurated to revive international yacht racing after the Great War.  They were held annually over four years, with each year alternating between the UK and America. The British team won the first set of races in Cowes in 1921, with the Americans beating the British team in Oyster Bay near New York in 1922. The British team won the following two years, however, qualifying them as the victors and ending the series. The cup was presented to the British Team to keep permanently and is now in the Royal Thames Yacht Club, Knightsbridge.

The first four American Six Metres were specially built for this series.  They were Sheila and Jeanie, designed by Starling Burgess, and William Gardner’s Montauk and Grebe. The first race was a disaster for the Americans as three of their boats lost their masts, however they recovered rapidly to win the second.