M. Rosenfeld 12 Metre Class Racing YachtsPhotograph 1952

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ORIGINAL PHOTGRAPH

by MORRIS ROSENFELD

1952 NYYC New London to Block Island

Race 12
Metre Class, Vim, Nereus, Charlotte II, & Nyalla

 
 
 

Original Photograph on board                         
1952 
                     
Unframed 15 3/8″ L x 13″ H                              
Framed
22 1/2″ x 19 3/4″
Embossed Morris Rosenfeld                             Lower
Right
 
 
Presented is an original photograph taken in 1952 of the
start of the New York Yacht Clubs Block Island Race taken by the dean of marine photographers, Morris Rosenfeld who was
the undisputed photographer of choice by the elite yachting fraternity, and the maritime industry around New York and the
Eastern seaboard. This wonderful picture has been re-framed for your enjoyment. The original 1950sh frame is available at
no cost.
 
THE ORIGINAL LEGEND: On the back is written in ink, ” 1952,
Start of race to Block Island. NYYC Cruise L to R, VIM, NEREUS, CHARLOTTE II, NYALLA.
Sticker: J. Assenheim & Son, Importers of etchings, paintings, fine picture framing, 37 New Street, New York.
 
Please note, the framed pictures were taken through glass
and on the back, plastic. There are unavoidable reflections.
 

THE PHOTGRAPHER, MORRIS ROSNEFELD (1885-1968)

Morris Rosenfeld a noted photographer of yachts and other vessels, was born in Austria
in 1885. His family moved to the United States a few years later, and Morris grew up in New York, where he began his
photographic career as a youth. After working under Edwin Levrick, Rosenfeld set up his own business in 1910. During
the next six decades he actively recorded maritime scenes in the New York area, and along the U.S. East Coast, as well as
making images for commercial clients.

He was known as “Rosie” to two generations of yachtsmen, was
admired for the poetic skill with which he recorded their sport from 1899 on. He was acknowledged as the dean of yachting
photography by every journalist and editor in the field for decades. From 1920 onward, Rosie personally covered every major
yachting event within his reach on the East Coast, publishing his photos in every magazine and newspaper concerned with these
events. Readers treasured the painstaking care and breathtaking sweep of his work from Long Island Sound to the unforgettable
moments of the America’s Cup. His first major book in 1947 was Sail Ho, followed by Under Full Sail in 1957, and Sailing for
the America’s Cup in 1964. With his sons Stanley, Dave, and Bill, who joined him in the profession, Rosie became a constant
and expected observer at every major regatta in his 33 foot camera boat FOTO. Rosenfeld helped found the Press Photographer’s
Association and for many years served as Commodore of the Regatta Circuit Riders. The vast photographic collection of his
firm, Morris Rosenfeld & Sons, was purchased in 1984 by the Mystic Seaport Museum, of Mystic, Connecticut.

Mystic Seaport sells 10″ x 13″, prints of
his work for $2000.00 unframed. These are not originals, they are multiple copy prints, and do not have the Morris Rosenfeld
embossed stamp.

   The embossing shows its an original
        Original note and sticker preserved

 

THE 12 METRE CLASS RACING YACHTS: The 12-meter
class of racing yachts which, while not identical, are all designed to a particular formula, so the boats involved are
roughly comparable in performance. The idea was to give the designers the freedom to experiment with the details
of their designs while maintaining a level field. The first 12-meters were built in 1907 and the last in 1987. The 12-meter
class was used in the Olympic Games of 1908, 1912 and 1920.
12 Metre boats are best known
for their use in the America’s Cup Series  from 1958 to 1987 and are a most important part of “Cup” history.
The “12-metre” in the class name thus has nothing to do with the actual length of the
boats, which ranged from 65 to 75 feet overall. They were all sloop-rigged, with their masts typically being about 85
feet tall. It refers to the addition of the various factors used in the design which had to be equal to 12 metres in
total.
 
12 METRE’S in the America’s Cup: When America’s Cup racing resumed
in 1958 after World War II, more economical vessels were desired to replace the huge and expensive J-class yachts that were
raced in the 1930s; the 12-meter class was selected. In 1987, use of the 12-meter class was ended, switching to International
America’s Cup Class boats for the 1992 competition.
 
“VIM”: Was designed by Olin Stephens in 1939.
Stephens considered the possibilities given by every aspect of the rules’ variables and produced a very fast boat. Vim
had numerous innovative features including a trim tab on the rudder, two-speed winches and a lighter mast made of a form
of aluminum used in the aircraft industry. Vim is considered a benchmark design which was continually refined over her racing
career. In 1939 Vim came to the UK and won 19 races out of 28. The next generations of 12-meters designed and built 20 years
after Vim was launched, she was still extremely difficult to beat in competition.
 

A VIEWER’S INPUT: The sail numbers from left to right in the picture are US: 11,
12, 14, 15. And we quote:
 
“The photo shows Vim (US-15), Nereus, Charlotte II, and Nyalla (US-12) — which is mis-spelled
by the original owner — real name is Nyala, with one “l”.
 
Nereus should be sail number US-14, and was originally named “Northern Light”.  She is still
sailing in Newport, RI, but is again called Northern Light.   She was re-named Nereus between 1941-1971.
 
Charlotte II is sail number US-11, and was originally named “Gleam”.  She also is sailing
in Newport, RI today, still under the name Gleam.  She was renamed for only 2-3 years by her then owner.  During
this time, he named her “Charlotte II”.  In 1953, new owners re-named her back to the original name, Gleam, and she is
still Gleam today.
 
As an aside, both of the other boats are still under sail as well.  Vim is owned and well maintained
in Italy, and most recently raced in a regatta for 12 Meter boats that was held between the Amercia’s Cup Challenger and Defense
races.  Nyala is also sailing in Italian waters.”

 
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