1930 Americas Cup

The Challenge

When Sir Thomas Liptons 5th challenge for the Americas Cup was accepted by the New York Yacht Club in May 1929 it was stipulated that the contesting yachts where to be built to the American Universal Rule and would be “J Class 75ft-87ft on the waterline “ and be Bermudan rigged It was also agreed that the new yachts be built to Lloyds A1 scantling, requirements that avoided the construction of lightweight unseaworthy hulls of past contests. The introduction of the Universal Rule also meant the yachts would race scratch with out time allowances as in previous contests.

As a result of receiving the challenge four syndicates formed and built 4 new J class yachts Enterprise, Weetamoe, Whirlwind and Yankee.

The 4 new Js represented different solutions to the problem faced by all four designers of how best to drive a yacht with slightly shorter water line length than Reliance the Cup defender of 1903 with only slightly more than half her sail area. In America the only comparable large yachts racing in the 1920s had been the 76 footers Resolute and Vanatie and they had spent most of the decade as gaff rigged or schooners. Even in England where large yachts had been raced throughout the 20s racing was governed by the International rule and was handicaped based. So designers had no existing examples to work from.

Long Island Series June 1930

The new boats raced for the first time on Long island sound in June 1930, in addition to the 4 new Js , Resolute, the successful Americas Cup defender of 1919 and her long time rival Vanitie were rerigged as Js to provide trial horses for the new Js.

The long Island sound series consisted of 4 races, raced around Glen Cove and Eatons Neck, unfortunately Yankee only arrived in time for the last of these races. During these races Weetamoe and Enterprise proved very equal in the prevailing conditions.

Eastern Yacht ClubRaces June 23-25

Three perfect racing days where experienced by the yachts at the Eastern Yacht club races off Newport. With clear blue skies and light breezes increasing as the days grew older. Again the battle was between Weetamoe and Enterprise as the regatta confirmed that Yankee and Whirlwind were to large for the light weather work.

Observation Races July 6-17

The Observation races consisted of 10 races all over the Americas Cup course off Newport . In each race apart from the 10th, which was a tripartite race , the four candidates raced in pairs started 15 mins apart.

Inspite of having her new Duralumin mast and undergoing various rigging modifications during the races Enterprise only won 5 races to Weetamoes 7 making Weetamoe the favourite to be selected for the Cup at this point

New York Yacht Club Run Aug 1st -9th

On the 7 races of the New York Yacht Club Cruise the small improvements made to Enterprise began to tell with her defeating Weetamoe 4 out of 7 times. this put them on level terns going into the official trials

Selection Trials Aug 10th -19th

In just 3 races Enterprise now with her famous Park Ave Boom and a smaller rudder defeated her arch rival Weetamoe twice and Yankee in the third and was selected to defend the Cup against Shamrock V

1930 Americas Cup Sept 13th to 18th

The races for the Americas Cup proved one sided with Enterprise winning 4 straight races and Shamrock V never looked like winning a race.

In 1930 though the hulls of the competing yachts were similar the technology and management of the crew and aftergaurd of the two boats were very different.

Race 1 Setember 13th

Wind 9.5 knot Northerly Course 15 mile leeward/ Windward Start 12.55

Enterprise rounds leeward mark at 2:08:19 Shamrock 2:10:15

Enterprise finishes 4:58:48, Shamrock 5:01:40

Average speed 7.38 knots

Race 2 September 15th

wind 7.5 to 10 Knots south westerly course triangle 10 miles a side , a beat and two reaches, Sea state sloppy

Elapsed time leg 1, Enterprise 1:40:18; Shamrock V 1:46:16

Elapsed time leg 2 Enterprise 59:10 Shamrock V 1:02:15

Elapsed time Leg 3 Enterprise 1:12:16 Shamrock V 1:12:47

Elapsed time finishing Enterprise 4:00:44 Shamrock V 4:10:18

average speed 7.47 knots

Race 3 September 17th

course 15 miles windward /leeward wind 12 knot WSWE breeze slop of a sea starting time 11.40

Windward leg elapsed time Enterprise 2:13:33 ; Shamrock V disabled

Leeward Leg Elapsed time Enterprise 1:40:43

Finish 3 Elapsed time Enterprise 3:54:16 average speed 7.68 knots

Race 4 September 18th

course triangle 10 miles a leg ,beat,close reach,broad reach: wind WNW fesh 14 knot . sea fairly smooth, clear bright day

Elapsed time leg 1 Enterprise 1:22:08; Shamrock V 1:31:18

Elapsed time leg 2 Enterprise 51:52; Shamrock V 50:29

Elapsed time leg 3 Enterprise 56:13 ; Shamrock V 54:10

Elapsed time race Enterprise 3:10:13 Shamrock V 3:15:57 average speed 9.45 knots

America Scoop a great resource for the early americas Cup contests

Reference Ian Dear “Enterprise to Endeavour”

Harold Vanderbilt “Enterprise”

Norman L Skene “ Elements of Yacht Design”

Charles Lane Poor “Men against the Rule”