Description
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Coronet and Dauntless in the famous transatlantic race
In 1885, the Victorian schooner yacht Coronet was built in Brooklyn, NY, for oil tycoon Rufus T. Bush. She measured 133 feet on deck and was constructed with the finest woods and materials available.
Bush had a desire to race and cruise the great oceans with resplendent luxury and grace.
Coronet’s maiden voyage in 1886 served as a challenge for a 3,000 mile transatlantic race from New York Harbor to Queensland, Ireland. Bush’s challenge included a prize award of 10,000 dollars.
Soon afterwards, the prideful Caldwell Colt, inventor of the Colt .45 and owner of the swift schooner Dauntless, accepted the challenge. The prize money, however, meant little to either of these two men.
The two graceful schooners departed from lower NY bay off Sandy Hook bar and unknowingly headed into the most powerful low-pressure systems seen in decades.
Three days into the contest, hurricane force winds warranted heaving to. Captain Crosby of Coronet, however, only shortened sail for the next eleven days.
“Bully” Samuels, the famed clipper ship driver and captain of Dauntless, could only hope to beat the larger Coronet by driving his vessel harder. In the end, however, he lost to Coronet.
Interestingly, it had come to light during the race that the reporters aboard the vessels had been asked by their editors to write their own obituaries before departure. In addition, their respective publishers had denied them life insurance for their voyage.
And later…
Coronet went on to become the first registered American yacht to round the treacherous Cape Horn.
While transiting the Pacific, she visited Hawaii and entreated King Kalakaua. Further westward, she honored Japan with the Emperor aboard.
Lying dormant in my archives for many years, I recently put the finishing touches on this watercolor rendering of the two famous yachts: Coronet and Dauntless.
Related artwork
See also the oil painting “Cutter Bloodhound”, which includes the famous schooner Coronet in the background.
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