While watching the goings on of the America's Cup, I came across some bits and pieces on how the competition used take place. With the pre-thirties yachts proving to be a bit too dangerous, a new design was called for, and as a result, the magnificent J-Class yacht was born. This class contested the three America's Cups in 1930, 1934 & 1937 before being discontinued due to the need for the steel and lead for the war effort. In that period, only 10 J-Class yachts were ever built. After the war, these huge yachts were considered far too expensive to build. No Cup would be contested until 1958 when the now legendary 12m was introduced.
In that initial J-Class Cup of 1930, Sir Thomas Lipton's syndicate took his
Shamrock V across to New Port. The Americans threw four new Yachts against him. They defended with a competition between Wheetamoe, Yankee, Whirlwind & Enterprise. The latter, owned by the Harold Vanderbilt syndicate won the series and went on the successfully defend the Cup against Shamrock V, four races to nil.
In 1933, the sixth J-Class yacht was built, she was christened
Velsheda. She would not contest an America's Cup. Through 1933-36 she won many races against the seventh J-Class built,
Endeavour which was launched in 1934. Sir Thomas Sopwith's
Endeavour would go down 4-2 against Harold Vanderbilt's Rainbow in the 1934 Cup.
Only two more J-Class yachts were ever built during that period. In 1936 Sir Thomas Sopwith launched the ninth of these monster yachts, Endeavour 11
. She would have her colours lowered 4-0 by the mighty Ranger, the final J-Class built, and another of the Vanderbilt fleet.
All but
Shamrock V, Velsheda & Endeavour have perished. Since those fantastic days, only six such yachts have been built, starting with Ranger, launched in 2004, and a replica of the original, Hanuman in 2009, a replica of Endeavour 11, Lionheart in 2010, Rainbow in 2012, a replica of the original, Topaz in 2015 Svea in 2017.
Below is some 2011 film of the 1933 built
Velsheda match racing the 2004 built Ranger at Newport. Glorious yachts.
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