John Steven Dews

STRUCTURE Original canvas in sound condition. PAINT SURFACE The paint surface is in good, clean condition, ready to hang. ULTRAVIOLET UV light reveals two tiny specs of retouching in the sky upper right and left, otherwise excellent original condition. FRAME Held in a modern composite frame in fair condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Velsheda (J/K4) was built in 1933 by Camper and Nicholson at Gosport in Hampshire.  She was designed by Charles Nicholson and commissioned by Mr W.L. Stevenson, her name being taken from the first letters of his three daughters names, Velma, Sheila and Daphne.  She was 128 feet long, with a fifteen foot draft, twenty-one foot beam and displaced 143 tons.  She enjoyed numerous successes, especially in her second season where, under captain Mountfield, she won more than forty races around the coasts of Great Britain.

Thomas Sopwith's Endeavour (J/K7), also designed by Charles Nicholson, was the yacht who arguably came closest in this glorious era to breaking the United States' monopoly on the America's Cup.  She was 130 feet long, eighty-three feet on the waterline with a displacetment of 165 tons.  She raced and trialled against Velsheda on many occasions in her bid to win 'The Auld Mug'. 
In the 1934 cup she won the first two races against Harry Vanderbilt's Rainbow; however her prime crew were on strike over
pay and Sopwith was forced to replace them with amateurs who ultimately lost the cup.  Despite the defeat she came back strongly the following year achieving twelve wins, ten seconds and six thirds, a total of twenty-eight top positions from thirty five starts.