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Home , 1995 Louis Vuitton Cup, Australia II, Dame Pattie, Endeavour II (yacht), Gretel II, Kookaburra III

Infosheet No. 5 The history of international & The ’s Cup

The prosperity of Victorian times became disenchanted with yachting quite naturally led the more after the death of Prince Albert in affluent towards leisure pursuits. 1861. Nonetheless, her interest in One of these pursuits was sailing. and ownership of yachts did cause Pleasure yachts became extremely a number of her subjects to sail for popular and herself pleasure. It can fairly be said that became a yacht owner. The Royal yacht building reached a high family‟s association with yachts degree of development during really started when Charles II was Victoria‟s reign. In the 1830s, there presented with the yacht Mary by were scarcely 100 yachts in the Bergmeister of Amsterdam in existence, mostly based on the 1660. Between 1671 and 1677, designs for brigs, schooners and Charles II had a further 14 yachts cutters owned by the Royal Navy. built at Woolwich, Portsmouth, A good example is the Waterwitch, a Rotherhithe, Lambeth and brig built at Cowes in 1832 for the Chatham. His early enthusiasm no Earl of . The Admiralty doubt encouraged the aristocracy of Officials were so impressed by this the time to emulate him. By the next brig‟s sailing qualities that they century (1775) yacht races were bought her. Such brigs and being organised regularly on the schooners sometimes raced against River Thames. The Royal Yacht each other but, ultimately, the Squadron was founded after the cutter rig proved to be the best type end of the Napoleonic Wars and for competition. yachting was established as a pleasurable pastime. In 1875, the Association, with Dixon Kemp as Queen Victoria inherited the yacht Secretary, was established. A series Royal George (330 tons) from her of short-lived relatively poor rating uncle William IV and sailed in her formulae advanced by this to in 1842. The Queen was governing body led to the “not amused” when her becalmed emergence of extreme types and yacht required a tow and she very lightly built yachts. The Yacht commissioned a 225ft paddle steam Registration Society was formed in yacht which, when launched on 26 February 1877 under the April 1843, was christened Victoria chairmanship of the Marquis of and Albert, the first of a line of steam Exeter. The committee included Ben powered Royal Yachts that ended Nicholson and Dixon Kemp. The with Britannia, completed in 1954 Yacht Registration Society set about and decommissioned in 1998. By organising a formal process, 1855, the yacht had been replaced including submission of plans and by the longer, and appropriately inspection of yachts under named, Victoria and Albert II (2,342 construction, which would ensure tons) to allow for an extended royal the progress in yacht design. family. Regrettably, the Queen

Revised: July, 11 2012

Lloyd’s Register’s Yacht Rules technological progress had made Occasionally Lloyd‟s Register‟s (LR) extreme light weight yachts Rules had been consulted but there possible. There followed a period of was a reluctance to use the Rules as rapid and extreme design evolution yachtbuilders tended to believe the where from year to year new yachts requirements concerned merchant were out-classed and rendered vessels only. In 1876, John Harvey, useless for racing. These lightly a Wivenhoe yachtbuilder suggested built yachts had no future as that Rules for the construction of cruising yachts once their racing yachts should be published by LR. lives were over. The handicap basis which the Yacht Racing Association Ben Nicholson wrote formally to introduced only served to Bernard Waymouth, Secretary of exacerbate the problem. The yacht LR, and received the following building market was on the verge reply: of collapse. “We here can and do estimate you properly and will not fail to show In 1906, Charles E. Nicholson of that you are entitled to the high Camper and Nicholson succeeded position you occupy as a really in persuading a client to build a good yachtbuilder. And, as I have large racing yacht to the Lloyd‟s said before, if you will kindly, at an Register Rules for Yachts, formulated early period, let me know your some years earlier. The yacht was views as to the requirements to the Nyria (167 Thames meet the case of yacht owners I will Measurement, 20A1) and she try to lead the discussion in the showed that strength and speed direction you indicate, for our could be brought together desire should be to carry out the successfully. This example was views of the elite of the yacht instrumental in a new International owners and builders.” Rating Committee, including the The resultant Lloyd’s Register of Yacht Racing Association, deciding Yachts and Rules for the Classification to establish scantlings for racing of Yachts were instituted in 1878 and yachts and make Lloyd‟s Register although its regulations applied class mandatory for all racing only to cruising yachts until 1907, yachts built to the International they necessarily applied to all Rule (Metre class). This was significant designers who produced introduced from 1st January 1907 both types of yachts. throughout Europe. The Rule was to stay in force for 10 years. The 1884 edition was enlarged to list foreign-owned yachts and to Post the future of show British and foreign yacht yachting looked bleak until George clubs and their addresses, even V announced his intention to fit out their respective flags were his racing yacht Britannia (221 grt, strikingly illustrated. The Rules for 18A1). Soon many others were Steel Yachts were published in 1885. acquiring yachts and refitting them. The Yacht Racing Association The International Rules were established their Linear Rating revised in 1920 and 1934 and were Rules in 1896 and 1902. There was gradually accepted by yachtsmen of an enhanced incentive for yacht the United States, the influential builders and designers to build ever members lighter yachts. This was and the North American Yacht particularly significant because Racing Union. Eventually, Lloyd‟s Revised: July, 11 2012

Register‟s scantlings were adopted The result was a wooden schooner along with the existing Universal yacht of 170 tons Customs House Rule in the larger classes giving rise Measurements, named America. She to the and J-Class racing arrived at Cowes on August 1, 1851 yachts of the 1930‟s. This in turn and a challenge was immediately also had a considerable impact on issued by Commodore Stevens on redressing the structural inequities behalf of the New York Yacht Club, faced by all America‟s Cup to the Royal Yacht Squadron 'to run challenges. 1992 saw the debut of the yacht America against any number the innovative International of schooners belonging to any of the America‟s Cup Class (IACC) yachts Yacht Squadrons of the United designed to take advantage of the Kingdom, to be selected by the latest space age technology. Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron. The course to be over some The America's Cup part of the English Channel outside the "Who is first?" asked Queen Victoria, Isle of Wight with at least a six knot America has won, she was told. "Who breeze'. was second?" asked the Queen. "Your Majesty, there is no second." Nobody accepted the offer, so a week later Commodore Stevens Thus the America's Cup became much issued a more sweeping challenge more than a sport. It involves national to race America against any cutter, pride, high finance and even suspicion schooner or other vessel of the of industrial espionage. The year 2001 Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS); marked the 150th anniversary of the sticking his neck out even further, America’s Cup. This momentous he promised to stake any sum not anniversary was marked by a special exceeding 10,000 guineas on the yacht race in Christchurch Bay, Cowes, outcome. between the last remaining J-Class Such was the obvious supremacy of yachts, , V and the yacht, there were still no takers. . Time and tide for no man wait, and with the limited time Commodore What was to become known as the Stevens could spend in fast America‟s Cup started very running out, he decided to enter innocently with the Great America for the RYS Regatta to be Exhibition of 1851. A letter was sent held on August 22. In 1848, Queen to a merchant in New York Victoria had authorised the creation suggesting that a pilot boat/yacht of a "One Hundred Guinea Cup" of would be a prime example of solid silver (134oz), 27" tall for a American shipbuilding and could yacht race, hosted by the Royal be sent in time for the International Yacht Squadron, Cowes. The race, Exhibition in . This letter open to all contenders, was to be came to the attention of run around the Isle of Wight over a Commodore J C Stevens of the New distance of 53 miles. In 1851, York Yacht Club, who formed a eighteen schooners and cutters syndicate and signed a contract for ranging between 47 and 392 tons a pilot boat/yacht in 1850. The task entered the race, starting at 10 am of designing and building the yacht and racing over one of the most was entrusted to George Steers, son complicated courses in the world of the English shipbuilder Henry without time allowance. America Steers, whose skill and ability was finished at 8.37 pm, winning for the widely recognised. Revised: July, 11 2012

New York Yacht Club the RYS the contest was to take place. In trophy. 1887 a new Deed of Gift was drawn up, the principle feature being that If the yachts had been subject to to obtain a match the challenging handicapping, the British yacht club must give 10 months notice. Aurora would have won the race by The competing vessels were limited a good margin on corrected time, in their waterline measurements but then we would not have had and no restrictions were placed on the longest running challenge in the centreboards; the number of races a history of sport. challenger might demand by right was named as three, all to be sailed The Cup - which immediately over ocean courses with at least 22 became known as the America's feet of water depth. Cup - became the property of the So began an era of international original owners of America and, yacht racing that not only resulted after her sale, was committed to the in brilliantly fought contests over custody of Commodore Stevens. He the years but also inspired decided to dedicate it as a designers to the highest form of permanent challenge cup for racing development. international racing and placed it, under a Deed of Gift, into the The first scantlings for the custody of the New York Yacht regulation of yacht construction Club (NYYC) as a trustee. were prepared in 1877 and published in 1878. Restrictions imposed on the yachts had caused a The Deed of Gift and Rules for great deal of variation in design - Yacht Construction not necessarily for the best. While The conditions outlined in the deed the handicap of a 3000-mile ocean were straightforward. Any passage placed definite limitations organised yacht club of any nation on the challenger, all that was could issue a challenge but (giving required of the was that the NYYC a slight advantage) the she should hold together for her challenging vessel had to be first season-a short-lived blaze of between 30 and 300 tons; the match glory. This undesirable had to be sailed over the usual development was fortunately course set for the Annual Regatta of halted by a shift of opinion the club in possession of the Cup; favouring a stronger and more and the challengers had to set the durable construction as well as a date, name the vessel and its more generally serviceable type of dimensions and rig six months in hull. Up to and including a series of advance. matches held in 1920, yachts of a waterline length between 69 and 95 In 1881 the original Deed of Gift feet for vessels with one mast and was replaced by a more stringent 80 and 115 feet for those with more one, which imposed additional than one mast, were eligible to limitations for the challengers. enter. Handicapping via time Yachts had to be constructed in the allowances, were used to iron out country which was to be any advantage which one yacht represented, and all the vessels might gain over another. intending to compete for the Cup were to proceed under sail „on their The advent of the professional own bottoms‟ to the port at which yacht designer at the turn of the Revised: July, 11 2012 century, together with an increased dropped - after a transatlantic interest in racing, brought about a crossing a 12-metre boat could end marked improvement in yacht up looking pretty sick! construction. In 1906 and 1907 a series of conferences were held, There is some confusion about attended by representatives of 13 exactly what is a 12-metre boat. A countries, including the three 12-metre yacht is not 12-metres national classification societies then long; the figure is derived from a in existence. Following these formula. It's an IYRU rating but it conferences the YRA formed the has little to do with the length. The International Yacht Racing Union contending boats are all roughly 19- (IYRU) and introduced the first 29 metres long, overall. international rules for yacht The actual formula to establish the measurement. 12 metre rating is:

During discussions leading up to the 1930 Cup races, which were to L  2d  F  S be held for the first time between the great J-Class yachts, it was 2.37 decided that in the interests of uniformity of construction of both Where L = length in metres challengers and defenders, all d = girth difference vessels talking part in future Cup F = freeboard races would be built in accordance S = sail area in square with scantling Rules which had metres been established some years previously. The ensuing ten matches in the 12 metre class from 1958 to 1987 were From 1937 to 1957 there was a 20- notable for the evolution in design year lapse in the America's Cup and material technology of the races, largely due to the Second yachts, from the early vessels built World War. Inevitably, the large J- of wood, through the lightweight Class sloops disappeared because aluminium vessels and the fibre in the post-war era they had reinforced plastic (FRP) vessels in become far too expensive and 1987. Then 1992 saw the debut of impractical to build. Many were the innovative International broken up during World War II and America‟s Cup Class (IACC) yachts their keels used in the war effort designed to take advantage of the where every scrap of metal was re- very latest space age technology. used. After a detailed study during The revival of the contest was construction by surveyors, their brought about by another alteration final official duty is to carry out a to the Deed of Gift - this time by the Confirmatory Classification Survey. New York Supreme Court in 1957. This is peculiar to the yachts taking This amendment reduced the part in the America's Cup races and waterline length to 44 feet and is traditionally undertaken just welcomed a new type of competitor before the start of the races. The to the races, the smaller 12-metre purpose of this survey is to ensure boats. The restriction that vessels that no unauthorised alterations had to sail across the Atlantic to the have been made between race on their own bottoms had to be completion of construction and the Revised: July, 11 2012 commencement of racing so that the the CIA or MI5, and it is this air of vessel's rating validity is retained. mystery that enhances the excitement surrounding the The Challengers America's Cup. The divulgence of After the excitement of 1851, the any design details would give the American Civil War intervened and competitors a tempting chance to it would be another 19 years before use the information and emulate the race would again be held, when the design of a rival. Precautions the British was defeated by are taken to ensure that the plans, the American . Since then, designs and yachts are kept under except during times of war, the race the strictest security measures at all has been held at fairly regular times. Many unconventional intervals. designs have emerged over the Many valiant attempts were made years and some have caused to wrest the America's Cup from the controversy. defenders and there are many interesting personalities wrapped Two very notable cases in point up in the history of the America‟s were the British challenger Lionheart Cup, including the Earl of in the 1980 series and II in Dunraven, Sir Thomas , Sir the 1983 series. Lionheart had a Thomas Sopwith, Harold „bendy‟ mast - the top section of the Vanderbilt, , Ted Turner, mast was made of glass fibre and Dennis Connor and . foam, which could bend therefore offering a larger sail area at the top Sir Thomas Lipton was the sole of the mast where it is quite an contender for the Cup for 30 years advantage under certain wind from 1899 to 1930. Hoping to conditions. This was challenged by capture the trophy for Ireland's the French and Americans but Royal Yacht Club, he allowed. By the following season commissioned a series of five the rules had been changed, not to special craft, all baptised Shamrock - disallow a bendy mast but based and all defeated. At the age of 80 he upon the sail area allowed. This was planning the construction of a meant that no matter how much sixth Shamrock when his death put a your mast bent, as the sails now halt to his great ambition. had to be cut in a certain way, all of the benefits of a bendy mast had Sir Thomas Sopwith built the been removed. beautiful Endeavour, and issued his challenge through the Royal Yacht Controversy rose again in the 1983 Squadron in 1934. This race was challenge when it was revealed that one of the most controversial with a Australia II the yacht which was to „luffing‟ incident between wrest the America's Cup from the Endeavour and the defender Americans, had an unorthodox keel . The Committee decided designed by Ben Lexcon. Surveyors that Endeavour had fouled Rainbow inspected the keel and were and the Americans retained the title satisfied that there was nothing once more. untoward about its design which should preclude it from competing The spirit of oneupmanship that - it was simply a very good idea. As prevails over the races is incredible. the surveyors pointed out they are The contending yachts are cloaked not actually interested in the shape in secrecy that would be the envy of of the keel or its hydrodynamics, Revised: July, 11 2012 they are interested in the weight distribution and the keel's centre of gravity so that the keel bolting arrangements can be approved.

And of course Australia II won the America‟s Cup from the Americans breaking a 132 year record.

Since 'Tommy' Lipton's time the stakes have escalated dramatically. For example the syndicates in the 1987 series of America's Cup races spent more than £100 million on their 30 hopeful contenders. It can take approximately 500 races through the elimination series to decide which of the contenders will end up as the official Challenger for the America's Cup. A similar defender's series of elimination races will decide which boat will be the official Defender.

All contenders in the challenger's elimination races compete in three round robin tournaments. Winners score one point in the first tournament, five in the second and 12 in the third. The four best scoring boats meet in a semi-final race and then the two winners race each other for the honour of being the official Challenger.

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Revised: July, 11 2012

The Challenges 1851 – 2000 1937 defeats Endeavour II 1851 America (USA) defeats the (GB) British fleet to win the 1958 defeats Hundred Guinea Cup (GB) 1870 Magic (USA) defeats Cambria 1962 defeats (GB) (Australia) 1871 Columbia and defeat 1964 Constellation defeats (GB) (GB) 1876 defeats Countess of 1967 defeats Dufferin (Canada) (Australia) 1881 defeats Atalanta 1970 Intrepid defeats Gretel II (Canada) (Australia) 1885 defeats (GB) 1974 defeats Southern 1886 defeats Cross (Australia) (GB) 1977 Courageous defeats Australia 1887 defeats (Australia) (GB) 1980 defeats Australia 1893 defeats Valkyrie II (Australia) (GB) 1983 Australia II (Australia) 1895 Defender defeats Valkyrie III defeats (USA) (GB) 1987 Stars & Stripes (USA) defeats 1899 Columbia defeats Shamrock Kookaburra III (Australia) (Ireland) 1988 Stars & Stripes (USA) defeats 1901 Columbia defeats Shamrock II (New Zealand) (Ireland) 1992 America (USA) defeats Il 1902 Reliance defeats Shamrock III Moro di Venezia () (Ireland) 1995 Black Magic (New Zealand) 1920 defeats Shamrock IV defeats Young America (Ireland) (USA) 1930 defeats Shamrock 2000 Black Magic (New Zealand) V (Ireland) defeats Luna Rossa (Italy) 1934 Rainbow defeats Endeavour (GB)

Revised: July, 11 2012