1937 Americas Cup

The Challenge

During the summer of 1936 TOM Sopwith made his second challenge for the Americas Cup. He had in fact decided upon the challenge the preceding year and had Charles Nicholson design and build a new J, during that winter. In his challenge Sopwith requested  the earlier race date of July rather than the customary September, in the hope of getting more wind off Newport. His challenge and request where accepted by the New York Yacht Club.

Because Sopwiths new J  Endeavour ll had suffered two dismasting’s in 1936 the Universal Rule governing the contest was modified regarding the masts. Now the minimum weight of the masts plus fixed fittings where dependant on waterline length and as both the new boats were built to the maximum waterline of 87 feet their masts had a minimum weight of 6,400lbs. in addition a new minimum diameter was set and a lower centre of gravity.

To meet the challenge the New York Yacht club had 3 Js in commission, Weetamoe, Yankee and Rainbow. These boats had all been in commission in 1936 and raced very hard as a challenge was expected. It was known Sopwiths new J had proved her superiority over Endeavour that summer winning 6 out of her 10 starts and coming 2nd in 2 others. The older Endeavour had proved to be a faster boat than Rainbow in 1934 and had successfully held Yankee during the summer of 1935 so it was unlikely any of the existing Js could successfully meet the challenge. It was accordingly decided to build a new J to defend the Cup

Unfortunately with the effects of the depression having bit deep no syndicate could be formed and Harold Vanderbilt ultimately had to fund the new boat himself.

Ranger as the new boat was named was launched on the 11th of May. Disaster struck as she was being towed round Cape Code to Newport for the preliminary races, her mast worked loose and was lost. The loss delayed the preliminary and observation races, while Ranger was hurriedly fitted out with Rainbows old mast and rigged from fittings from Weetamoe , Enterprise and Vanitie.

Preliminary Races

June 2nd Ranger defeats Yankee by 5mins 56sec setting a new record for the 30 mile course

June 3rd Yankee defeats Rainbow by 5mins 27sec

June 4th Ranger defeats Rainbow by 1 min 58sec

June 5th Ranger defeats Yankee by 2min 5 sec

June 8th Yankee defeats Rainbow by 2min 3 sec

June 9th Ranger defeats both Rainbow and Yankee by 4 min 38 sec

Observation Races July 7-18

Ranger now with her new mast stepped with bar riggings

Race 1 June 19th Ranger defeats Yankee by 7min 3 sec

Race 2 June 20th Ranger defeats Rainbow by 11min 5 sec

Race 3 June 22nd Yankee defeats Rainbow which fails to finish.

Race 4 June 23rd Ranger defeats Yankee by 5 min 30 sec

Race 5 June 25th Yankee defeats Rainbow by 12min 36sec

Race 6 June 26th Ranger and Yankee retire with Yankee leading.

Selection Trials Aug 10th -19th

Race 1 Ranger defeats Yankee by 14min 26 sec over a 30 mile triangle breaking the course record with a time of 2hrs 43 min 43 sec averaging a little under 12 knots

Race 2 Rainbow vs Yankee called off due to dense fog a no breeze. Ranger selected to defend the Americas Cup

subsequent to her selection Ranger races 3 times informally off Newport

Eastern Yacht Club Cruise

Mattapoisettet to Vineyard Haven Ranger wins over the 2 Endeavours , Rainbow and Yankee

Vineyard Haven to Newport in fluky conditions Ranger suffers her first defeat , finishing behinf Endeavour and Yankee and ahead of Rainbow. Ranger had had to anchor 3 times in Vineyard Sound on account of a head current while Endeavour and Yankee picked up the afternoon southwester which carried them to the finish well ahead of Ranger.( Vanderbilt on the winds highway)

1937 Americas Cup

Race 1 July 31st , start delayed by large spectator fleet. The series had been hughly anticipated with the expectation that Finaly England might win the cup. The spectar fleet included two square riggers Joseph Conrad and Seven Seas

Course 15mile to windward and return 1.25 start

Ranger wins by 17min 5 sec 

Race 2 Aug 2nd wind sw 10 mph ; course 30 mile triangle . spectator fleet much reduced

Ranger wins by18mins 32 sec

Race 3 August 4th course 15 mile to windward and return wind sw fresh 12mph

Ranger wins by 4 min 27 sec

Race 4 August 5th 30 mile triangle ,Wind SW 15mph

Ranger wins by 3 mins 37 sec and successfully defends the Cup

New York Yacht Club Cruise 1937 (Aug 16th to Aug 24th )

Aug 16th Ranger , Rainbow, Endeavour and Yankee race to New London from Newport in a sW breeze where they are latter joined by Endeavour 2

Aug 17th New London to Newport

Yankee defeats Ranger, Rangers first defeat.

Aug 18th Astor Cup;

Ranger wins over Endeavour2 ,Rainbow, Endeavour and Yankee

Aug 19th Newport to Mattapoisette

Ranger wins followed by Endeavour 2 , Rainbow, Endeavour and Yankee

Aug 20th Race in Buzzards Bay ,

perfect day for sailing good breeze sea smooth and blue. Course 23miles windward leeward twice round mark boat and Committeee boat.

Ranger wins by 5 mins ahead of Rainbow, Endeavour Endeavour 2 and Yankee.

Aug 21st Mattapoisette to Edgartown

Ranger wins

Aug 24th Kings Cup

The two Endeavours not being eligible to race are started in a private race 20 mins ahead of the main race. Keen interest in weather Ranger would catch them before the finish which she apparently did only to loose her lead to Endeavour 2 before the finish

Eastern Yacht Club Cruise Aug 28th -September 2nd

5 races at Marblehead over the Labour day weekend. Unfortunately the winds appeared to have been light for 4 of the 5 races , the breeze picked up for the last race 28miles windward leeward to the Graves and return twice round. provided a close race between Ranger and Yankee.

Observations

For rhe 1937 Americas Cup Endeavour II was perfectly tuned up with a very experienced and profienct crew, Her aftergaurd unlike 1934 was very compitent. her design however was very outdated compared to Ranger which had used all the latest in science and technology in her design. In the case of sails she was out gunned with Ranger carrying more larger and more powerful sails. It was remarked that Endeavour ll’s foretriangle appeared full of holes compared to Ranger due to her high cut quad and small stay sail. In addition Rainbow carried her revolutionary Rayon quad genoa and the largest parachutte spinnaker in the world at 18,000sqft. In fact her smallest quad of 1937 was larger than Rainbows of 1934