Answering a challenge issued by German Kaiser Wilhelm II, eleven large sailing yachts and ships crossed the starting line at Sandy Hook on May 17, 1905 bound for Cornwall, England. In this period view, signed and dated by the maker “W. Lane, 1906”, the start is commemorated with a view of two of the competitors, believed to be the large Cutter AILSA and the dark sharp hull of the Keiser’s new 158-foot yacht, HAMBURG. A New York steam sidewheel excursion boat is loaded with well-wishing and wagering spectators, showing the destination British flag on the bow and the American ensign aft, while the Keiser’s own luxury Steam Yacht PFIEL hoists the German national flag off her stern. It is an extremely rare and well crafted overall composition of yacht racing and a historic match.

Establishing one of the world’s all-time sailing records, the phrase “12 days, four hours, one minute and nineteen seconds” still resonates through the lore of international yacht racing. The magnificent 185-foot schooner ATLANTIC made the winning passage in the 1905 race event, driven hard by 70-year old captain Charlie Barr. Hired by Atlantic’s owner Winston Marshall, Barr drove the schooner to clock 341 nautical miles in one 24-hour period, and sailed through two significant storm gales that stymied other competitors. “You hired me, sir, to win this race, and, by God, that’s what I am going to do,“ is Barr famous quote as he ordered the owner below to join his numerous frightened invited guests.

Some thought the Keiser sought to improve his standing within the international yacht racing community, after his big schooner METEOR II was repeatedly second to BRITANNIA, his royal uncle King Edward VII’s racing yacht. His new yacht HAMBURG was thought to be the yacht to beat, amongst the seven schooners, one cutter, one yawl and two square-riggers that sailed that day, and was favored to win the title and the large cup of solid gold that the Keiser put up as the prize. But fame, fortune and the immortal victory phrase went to ATLANTIC. The artist Lane undoubtably created this woolwork as a direct commemorative for one of the participants.