Enterprise vs Weetamoe

Oil on Panel 8x12inches

Enterprise was the shortest of the new J’s. It was thought by her designer that a shorter water line would best suit the light to moderate conditions expected of Newport during the Cup races. She did indeed prove fast in light conditions and her underwater profile made her quick in stays.

During the season she had a very close battle for selection with Weetamoe, Weetamoe proving the early favourite. However, bit by bit new improvements were made to her including a new light weight duralimin mast, bar rigging, improved winches and finally the famous Park Ave boom. These improvements had the hoped-for effect and Enterprise finally was selected over Weetamoe to defend the Cup.

Enterprise was known as the Mechanical ship with all her stays, shrouds and runners being set up below decks and operated by the “Black Gang. The Black Gang operated below decks throughout the race and responded to orders relayed to them from a crewman stationed between decks

The 1930 Americas Cup races proved a disappointment as Shamrock V was hopelessly out classed and never looked like winning a race.

Changes were made to the rule for the 1934 Americas Cup relating to minimum mast weight and the requirement of full internal cabins and fittings. In addition, the rule required that all rigging must be tended and worked on deck not below. These changes to the rule meant Enterprise with her small hull would not be competitive and she was accordingly not fitted out to defend the Cup in 1934.

in 1935 Enterprise was broken up

Weetamoe was the narrowest and with her graceful sheer the most beautiful of the four new Js built to defend the Cup in 1930, Her underwater profile was practically a triangle giving her a minimum wetted surface area making her a little tender a times. At her best in light to moderate winds Weetamoe proved to be the chief rival to Enterprises during the season of 1930.

At the end of the 1930 season Weetamoe was bought by Frederick Prince, one of the richest men in America and was the only J fitted out and raced in 1931,32 and 33. It was long rumoured that she was to race in England, and it may have inspired the building of Velsheda in 1933.

For the selection trials of 1934 Weetamoe was radically altered in an attempt to improve her stability but as these changes proved a failure and they were quickly reversed. She was again fitted out in 1936 but her hull lacked the power to carry the double headed rig and subsequently she did not participate in the 1937 trials,

Weetamoe was eventually broken up in 1938

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