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In this painting, Harold S.Vanderbilt’s 1937 America’s
Cup defender RANGER has just swept majestically around the leeward
mark of the third race of what was destined to be the last contest
for the ‘Auld Mug’ before the outbreak of World War II.
This truly dominant J Class yacht (nick-named by her owner as the Super
J) was, at this stage of the race at least three minutes ahead of the
British challenger, T.O.M.Sopwith’s ENDEAVOUR II. But the crew
of the defending yacht were keeping to their high work rate to ensure
that the next day would see their fourth consecutive win and ensure
that the ‘Cup would remain in it’s New York Yacht Club
display cabinet!
The J Class were beautiful big brutes that relied on much physical
effort and crew skill to trim their huge sails. Vanderbilt, the first
of the amateur owner/helmsmen, brought a new meaning to crew efficiency
and his three America’s Cup victories owed a lot to the skill
of his crew and their attitude of co-operation. There was no ‘them
and us’ attitude between the after guard and the rest of the
crew.
RANGER was not only the greatest but also sadly, the last of the beautiful
J Class. |
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© 2007 Jim Bolland – All rights reserved
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