Cannes Regatta 1877, Lt William Henn, yacht Minnie

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A pencil and watercolour sketch of the yacht Minnie winning the International regatta at Cannes in April 1877.
Irish born William Henn purchased the cutter Minnie, built by Michael Ratsey, upon leaving the Royal Navy in 1874. For two and a half years it was his home and he sailed her some 15,000 miles, which included a winter cruise to the Mediterranean where, in April 1877, he won the Grand Prix at the International Regatta, Cannes, with her. Whilst in the Mediterranean he met and married Susan Susan Cunningham-Graham who was also on a sailing cruise with her brother Robert.
During his time in the Navy Lt Henn was very active in the suppression of the Arab slave trade off East Africa and was also seconded as a leader of the Geographical Society's expedition to find Dr Livingstone. See images of one of his pencil sketches of an Arab slaver dhow and a page from his 1872 journal: the latter to compare handwriting with his annotations on the sketch he did of Minnie. These we sourced on the internet where there is a wealth of historical information on his naval and yachting exploits..
During the 1880s Henn, his wife and their pet monkey crossed the Atlantic in their large gaff cutter Galatea, which had been built for them, to challenge the Mayflower (unsuccessfully) for the America's Cup - after which they cruised the U.S Eastern seaboard before re-crossing the Atlantic to England with an enlarged menagerie which included several racoons. Both lived on Galatea until they died- she in the mid 1930s - whereupon the contents of the old vessel were disposed of the it was broken up in Plymouth.
Measuring just under 10 by 14 inches this original sketch by a true Victorian adventurer, philanthropist and eccentric is a fascinating, if battered, survivor of his life and times. Its water stains and folds (having been twice framed) having been acquired during its age, travels and years aboard the Galatea from where it was saved when she was dismantled.




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Period Victorian Antiques Material Paper Origin English Condition battered, stained and folded Item code ac051a1222 / M71 Status Sold

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Item Cannes Regatta 1877, Lt William Henn, yacht Minnie

 

Item Code ac051a1222 / M71

 

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