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| Queens of the Sea |
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The J-Class is evocative of yachting at its pre-war most opulent stage, where
the towering rigs of vessels like Endeavour and Ranger would dwarf all the boats around them.
"If you have ever encountered a 12-Metre at close quarters while afloat," wrote Uffa
Fox (British yachtbuilder) in 1935, "you may recall the sheer size of the thing, the feeling
of immense power in
the sails and the suction of her passing. Compare then, the dimensions of a Twelve with
those of a J and you begin to get an inkling of the grandeur of their progress and with
what majesty they moved."
In 1929 Sir Thomas Lipton issued a challenge to the Americans for the America's Cup.
It was his fifth challenge and ushered in a whole new era in design evolution and racing. The
J-Class designation, according to Nat Herreshoff's Universal Rule specified
that yachts would be similar in length, sail area, and hull shape in order to produce seaworthy
boats that could race without complicated handicapping.
Only ten of the true J-Class were ever built and these raced together for just eight
seasons from 1930 to 1937 (cut short by WWII).
J-Class Yachts that competed in the America's Cup:
J-Class Yachts that did not compete in the America's Cup
- Yankee (US - 1930 - Mr. Gerard Lambert)
- Whirlwind (US - 1930 - Landon K. Thorne & Paul Hammond)
- Weetamoe (US - 1930 - J.S. Morgan & George Nichols)
- Velsheda (UK - 1933 - W. L. Stephenson)
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Painting by Roger Davies |
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*Corinthian is defined by The American Heritage Dictionary
of the English Language as, "A wealthy amateur sportsman, especially an amateur yachtsman."
How better to describe the monied owners of these magnificent yachts of the early 20th century?
Included in this select group were, from the USA, a succession of (Cornelius to Harold S.)
Vanderbilts, J.P. Morgan, and Gerald Lambert (Listerine), among others. Representing Great
Britain were Sir Thomas Lipton (tea), Sir T.O.M. Sopwith (aviation), Sir Mortimer Singer
(sewing machines), W.L. Stephenson (Woolworths), and H.R.H. Edward VII & H.R.H. George V, Kings of England. |
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Prior to the introduction of the Herreshoff Universal Rule these sailors built yachts in the 23
Meter Class, sometimes called the "Big" Class. Many of these boats were converted(**) to comply with
the rule. The yachts listed below frequently raced head to head with the J-Class yachts. See the
Royal Cornwall Yacht Club Journal for a listing of their J-Class Regattas. |
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- H.M.Y. Britannia** (UK - 1893 -- H.R.H. Edward VII & George V)
- Westward (US - 1910 - Alexander S. Cochrane)
- Lulworth (ex Terpsichore) (UK - 1920 - Sir Mortimer Singer)
- Astra** (UK - 1927 - Sir Mortimer Singer)
- Cambria (UK - 1927 - Sir William Berry)
- Candida** (UK - 1929 - Hermann Andreae)
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| Sources of Additional J-Class Information:
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