Description

built early 1850, but fire consumed yacht May 1852 but iron frame survived so rebuilt the yacht and called her 'Themis' while at the same time building Robert Stephenson a new 'Titania,' which launched in 1853. Both were schooners and both had as their master Loving Corke, a member of a notable Cowes family of merchant and yacht service mariners who included pilots and the captain of the Southampton - Cowes ferry.

There was much interest in the match that took place on 29th August 1851. This was a race between schooners, like for like; between wood and iron; between a vessel from George Steers and the John Brown yard in New York and one from the drawing board and yard of John Scott Russell in London; between two countries who laid claim to 'wave line'. 'Hunt's Yachting Magazine' gave a four-page report compared with just one for the cup race. The race was 20 miles from the Nab Light SSE to the steamer Queen (Captain D Corke) and then return; £50 to the winner of each leg. In the race out America beat Titania by 4 min 12 sec, despite having serious problems with the jaws of her main gaff. On the return passage she flew away from Titania, winning by a huge margin of 47 min 48 sec, a decisive victory. America was sold two days later.