Scudding Before the Weather

14" x 24" | Oil on board

In the 1790's the British Admiralty sent Captain George Vancouver on a voyage of discovery to the western part of the US and Canada to chart and enforce Britain's claim to the land.

Sailing around the world to reach his destination, Vancouver's ships "Discovery" and "Chatham" had to endure every possible condition - from the calms of the doldrums to storms in the great Southern Ocean. In this painting "Discovery" is shown scudding before the weather in southern latitudes almost under bare poles.   Only 105 feet long, this tiny ship survived only because of her stoutness and the skill of her crew.

This is a small painting - one of over 50 - that I have produced to capture the stories of Captain Vancouver's charting some of what is now California, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska.