1899 America’s Cup

After the controversy of the 1895 America’s Cup the New York Yacht Club was pleased to accept the new challenge from Sir Thomas Lipton of Tea fame.

No money was to be spared on the two new boats that would contest the 1899 America’s Cup.  For the new Cup defender J P Morgan turned to Nat Herreshoff the designer of the last two defenders whilst Sir Thomas Lipton looked to William Fife the preeminent designer in England for his challenger.

The successful Cup defender of 1895 was put into commission as a trial horse for the new yacht Columbia. Capt Charlie Barr was put in command of the new Columbia and Capt Urias Rhodes of the older boat Defender. During the season the yachts met several times, off Newport and Sandy Hook, Columbia establishing her superiority over the older boat. Both Columbia and Defender carried steel masts to reduce weight aloft.  On Aug 2nd Columbia was dis-masted off point Judith which at the time attracted much attention in the press. Any concerns about the new boat and her spar were overcome when both Columbia and Defender had a memorable battle of Gaye Head on the New York Yacht Club Cruise when both boats demonstrated their seaworthiness and recorded very fast times in a 20-knot breeze and a considerable sea.

Columbia went on to win the Astor Cup before defeating Defender in the official trial races off Newport in winds that ranged from light and baffling to a strong southwester.

Shamrock the new challenger was launched from Thorneycroft’s at Millwall near London on June 24th, 1899. She had a series of tuning up races against Britannia before crossing the Atlantic under reduced cutter rig. She was commanded by Capt Archie Hogarth and assisted by Capt Robert Wringe who would go on to captain Shamrock 111 against Reliance in 1903.

The races for the Americas Cup were scheduled to begin on October 3rd but despite repeated attempts to finish a race on the 3rd,5th,7th and 19th of October the races could not be completed due to lack of wind. Attempts to race on October 10th,12th 13th and 14th could not be started due to fog.

Finally, on October16th the first race was completed in a constant 10 knot breeze. Columbia both out footed and out pointed Shamrock in the 15 miles to windward and return race, clearly demonstrating her superiority over the challenger.

The second race was sailed the following day in a good breeze from the E by S. At the start Columbia sailed easily through Shamrock’s lee and was in a commanding position when Shamrock’s topmast went and she was forced to retire while Columbia according to the rules went on to complete the course alone and take the second race.

The yachts met the following day, but the wind failed, and the race was called off with Columbia well in the lead.

The yachts met for the final time on the 20th October in a fine northerly breeze. with the wind blowing 20mph the which saw the yachts sending spray the whole length of their decks in what was to be remembered as one of the most spectacular races in Cup history, Columbia winning the race the 15 mile to leeward and return race by a comfortable margin and retaining the Cup.