J. Russell Jinishian Gallery, jrusselljinishiangallery.com 

Crisp brightwork, bold sails and churning water catch the eye in Henry Egan’s Velsheda Rounding the Mark. On deck, the crew is at ease as they expertly navigate the J Class yacht through this technical maneuver. 

“When a boat is operating correctly, it is just one of the calmest and most beautiful things in the world,” says Egan, who lives in Easton, Connecticut, and grew up sailing on Long Island Sound. “Every person on that deck is relaxed, and they’re at high speed.”

One of the historic J Class racing yachts built to the specifications of Nathanael Herreshoff’s Universal Rule, Velsheda  was designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson and built by Camper & Nicholsons in 1933. She quickly established herself as a formidable competitor, winning more than 40 races during her second season. 

In 1937, Velsheda was laid up in a mud berth on the River Hamble in England and became derelict. She was rescued in 1984 and economically refitted for charter work, sailing without an engine. She was laid up again in 1995 in Gosport, England, and was purchased as a bare hull the following year. After a major rebuild by Southampton Yacht Services, she relaunched in November 1997 and remains competitive in international classic yacht regattas. 

Egan was inspired to paint her after walking the decks of large sailing yachts in Rhode Island and being struck by their beauty and craftsmanship. “Then what really attracted me was seeing them in operation,” he says. “Sailing is like life—every decision you make has outcomes, good and bad, but you have to live with them in real time.”

This painting does not depict a specific race. Rather, Egan wanted to highlight the enjoyment of sailing, which he emphasizes through bright colors and bold geometry. 

“I’m a realist painter, but I like color,” he says. “I want to paint the positive joy of the sport.” 

He works from photographs, drawings and architectural references to ensure historical accuracy. 

Egan is known internationally for his depictions of 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century rowing, sporting and maritime subjects. His work is widely collected, and he takes commissions from corporations and families. He is a member of the American Society of Marine Artists, the Artists’ Fellowship, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Easton Arts Council, the Silvermine Arts Guild, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Society of Portrait Artists.

This article was originally published in the June 2026 issue.