Rainbow J4

Rainbow had originally designed by Stirling Burgess to meet the anticipated 6th challenge of Sir Thomas Lipton. The design was put aside with the death of Sir Thomas Lipton but revived with modifications when the challenge from T.O.M Sopwith was received.

Changes in the rule had allowed her designer to give her longer overhangs but she was still conservative in length on the waterline. He was still unsure about the power of the restricted rig to drive a longer hull. He knew only to well that both Whirlwind and Yankee the longest of the 1930 boats had been unsuccessful. However with the adoption of the double headed rig in 1934 it was quickly discovered that more waterline would be required to provide a stable platform to drive the boats.

In a strange twist of events, Rainbow started the season with the Park Ave Boom introduced by Enterprise in 1930 but finished with an improved bending boom first introduced on Velsheda in 1933. Endeavour on the other hand abandoned the bending boom for the American Park Avenue Boom.

 Throughout the season of 1934 Rainbow was repeatedly defeated by the Boston boat Yankee. At the very end of the season Vanderbilt added more ballast to her and consequently improved her stability and sail carrying ability. It was with these changes that she was finally able to defeat Yankee and was selected to defend the Cup against Endeavour.

 Rainbow was again in commission in 1936 and raced against Yankee and Weetamoe in preparation for the new anticipated Challenge from England. Rainbow sharing race honours with Yankee winning 8 races apiece.

 In 1937 Rainbow now owned by the Eastern Yacht Club commodore Chandler Hovey competed in the selection trials along with Yankee but was outclassed by the new super J Ranger.

 Rainbows last appearance was on the famed 1937 New York Yacht Club Cruise and Eastern yacht Club Regatta where she was joined by Ranger, Yankee and the two Endeavours.

 In 1940 Rainbow as broken up.

Specifications

Waterline Length….82ft

Overall length…….126.7ft

Beam………………21ft

Draught ft………….14.58ft

Displacement………141.1 long tons

Sail area……………7572

Sources

Ian Dear “Enterprise to Endeavour”

Harold Vanderbilt “On The Winds Highway”

Norman L Skene “ Elements of Yacht Design”

Charles Lane Poor “Men against the Rule”