AMERICA:
During the
early part of the 19th century the British had established a
reputation for ocean yacht racing. America¡¯s oldest surviving yacht club, The
New York Yacht Club, under Commodore John Stevens, decided to build a fast
racing schooner which they would take across the Atlantic to challenge British
yachting supremacy.
The club engaged a young designer, George Steers, who had developed a reputation
for fast sailing craft known as pilot schooners, whose fortunes depended upon
their ability to race out to and reach incoming vessels first and then to guide
them to safe harbor. Steers modeled his new yacht on the pilot schooner ¡°Mary
Taylor¡±, but made it longer, slimmer, and capable of carrying more sail. She
was delivered in May 1851, and was beautifully proportioned. At 171 tons, she 89
feet long at the waterline, 22 foot abeam, and possessed an 11 foot draft. Her
masts were raked sharply aft and she carried over 5000 square feet of canvas.
She was named the America.
After reaching England, she was invited to participate against fifteen yachts in
the annual 53-mile race around the Isle of Wight conducted by the Royal Yacht
Squadron. She won by two minutes despite highly variable winds and intense
competition from a wide range of boats. Next she sailed in a match race against
England¡¯s fastest, the Titania, winning by nearly an hour despite a strong
afternoon gale. She was awarded a cup for this triumph which later was presented
to the New York Yacht Club. The news informing Queen Victoria was simply
¡°America first, Your Majesty. There is no second¡±. The New York Yacht Club
offered the cup they had just won to any yacht capable of defeating them, and
subsequent competitions became known as ¡°America¡¯s Cup¡± races.
Pre
Assembled, Handcrafted Wood Model.
Models are shipped with the sails unassembled. Step-by-step
instructions are included. All rigging, lines and stays have brass hooks
attached, which easily hook into eyelets on mast, boom, sprit or deck. Assembly
takes less than 20 minutes.
ABOUT
SHIP MODEL
The
ship model made by hand from a variety of high quality woods. The ship model is
constructed by skilled craftspeople using plank on frame construction methods,
then finished and detailed to the exacting standards you see here.
¡¡
38"L
30"H
¡¡
¡¡
