america ii yacht

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

America II - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

12 Meter Racing Yachts

The 12 Metre Class – America’s Cup contenders 1958-1987

In 1958, after a twenty-one year halt of America’s Cup competition, racing continued with a new class of racers, the 12 Metre Class. These 60 to 70 foot sloops were smaller in size, easier to crew, and more manageable on a race course than the previous 135 foot America’s Cup racing class, J boats. However, the 12 Metre class, like the J boats, were designed based on a formula. This meant that 12 Metre Class yachts could vary in sail area, length, and other speed production aspects. The following is the mathematical formula by which all 12 Metre yachts are measured.

This formula inputs speed producing factors (length (L), sail area (Sa), freeboard (F), and a girth measurement (2D)) through a simple mathematical formula. In order for a yacht to be a Twelve Metre the results of this formula must not exceed 12 Metres. To limit the likelihood that one 12 Metre design would be vastly superior than another and promote fair and competitive racing there are other restrictions on design measurements of 12 Metre racing yachts. Maximum and minimum parameters on mast height, draft, beam and headsail height are applied to 12 Metre racing yachts to ensure that there is not too much diversity among boats.

Twelve Metre yachts are quite possibly the most fascinating racing sailboats ever built. They have a beauty and size that, along with their America’s Cup history, has attracted and intrigued yachtsmen since their debut. The horsepower used to drive these 65,000 pound racing beauties to speeds as high as twelve knots lies in their massive sail area. Their mainsails are usually about 1200 square feet in size and their jibs, which can only have a height that is seventy-five percent of the mast in height, range from 500 square feet to over 1200 square feet in size. Twelve Metre yachts were not raced in the America’s Cup until 1958. However, the six, eight, and twelve metre rules were developed over five decades earlier. In 1906 William Froude and the Royal Yachting Association in England helped develop the International Rules for metre class boats. Before their America’s Cup debut metre boats had considerable racing success and were used in the 1908, 1912, and 1920 Olympic games.

The 12 Metre Class was taken up by American yachtsmen in 1928 when several New York Yacht Club members ordered six virtually identical 12 Metre boats from renowned boat designer Starling Burgess. In 1939 American 12 Metre racing was taken to a new level when Harold Vanderbilt, an accomplished America’s Cup sailor, J boat skipper, and winner of the 1930, 1934, and 1937 America’s Cup, took his new 12 Metre,  Vim  (12 Metre US-15) to England to race against the prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron. While in England,  Vim  won 21 of her 27 races against the British 12 Metres, leaving the Royal Yacht Squadron in awe.  Vim  continued to be the standard by which all other 12 Metre yachts were gauged for the next two decades until 1958 when  Columbia  (12 Metre US-16) defeated her by only 12 seconds in the tie breaking race of the America’s Cup defense trials. The 12 Metre Class would remain the design standard for America’s Cup racing yachts until being retired after the 1987 America’s Cup.

America’s Cup 12 Metres were designed to do one thing – win America’s Cup races off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island. Therefore, every aspect of their design reflects this. When the twelves campaigned in the America’s Cup there was no room for the unneeded weight of an engine, anything below decks, or even a toilet. Set up for optimal sail performance, deck layouts of the America’s Cup twelves also reflect their need for speed. The sails are the engines of the boat during racing and therefore, in order to win, it was imperative that they were trimmed correctly and quickly. Even the America’s Cup twelve metre crew were trained to be as efficient as possible. They had intensive training and practice so that they would be flawless at sail handling and the best yacht racers in the world when it was their turn to race in the famous America’s Cup.

Today the America’s Cup 12 Metre boats remain a premier racing class and a prestigious part of America’s Cup history. After their America’s Cup adventures, many twelves went on to have successful careers in ocean racing. Newport, Rhode Island, where over 50 years of America’s Cup racing took place and all but two America’s Cup 12 Metre races took place, has rightfully become the home of the largest fleet of 12 Metre yachts in the world. Over a dozen America’s Cup 12 Metres are home ported in Newport, RI and are available for charter through  12 Meter Charters . These sleek racing beauties were designed to sail off the coast of Newport, RI – come sail with us on a piece of America’s Cup racing history!

For more information about chartering our America’s Cup 12 Meters please contact our office at  401-851-1216  or email us  [email protected]

AMERICAN 12 METRE YACHTS:

At the top of the main sail of a 12 Meter is  12 , the 12 Meter class insignia. Below the  12 , is a letter or letters that indicate the country where the boat is registered for racing. Following the letters is a number that is the boats racing number. Each countries 12 Meter racing numbers were assigned sequentially in the order that the yachts were built. For example,  Columbia  (12 US-16) was built in 1958 and  American Eagle  (12 US-21) was built in 1964. The following lists all American 12 Meters ever built.

12 Metre US-1  Waiandance  – Built 1928.

12 Metre US-2  Isolde  – Built 1928.

12 Metre US-3  Tycoon  – Built 1928.

12 Metre US-4  Iris  – Built 1928.

12 Metre US-5  Anitra  – Built 1928.

12 Metre US-6  Onawa  – Built 1928, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-7  Magda XI  – Built 1912, Norwegian sailed 1912 Stockholm Olympics Gold medal in the 12 Metre event.

12 Metre US-9  Seven Seas of Porto  – Built 1935.

12 Metre US-10  Mitena  – Built 1935.

12 Metre US-11  Gleam  – Built 1937, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-12  Nyala  – Built 1938, currently sailing in Italy with the Prada America’s Cup team.

12 Metre US-14  Northern Light  – Built 1938, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-15  Vim  – Built 1939, America’s Cup Contender 1958, currently sailing in the Mediterranean.

12 Metre US-16  Columbia  – Built 1958, First 12 Meter America’s Cup Winner 1958, America’s Cup Contender 1962, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-17  Weatherly  – Built 1958, America’s Cup Winner 1962, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-18  Easterner  – Built 1958, America’s Cup Contender 1958, 1962 & 1964, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-19  Nefertiti  – Built 1962, America’s Cup Contender 1962, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-20  Constellation  – Built 1964, America’s Cup Winner 1964.

12 Metre US-21  American Eagle  – Built 1964, America’s Cup Contender 1964, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-22  Intrepid  – Built 1967, America’s Cup Winner 1967 & 1970, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-23  Heritage  – Built 1970, America’s Cup Contender 1970, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-24  Valiant  – Built 1970, America’s Cup Contender 1970 & 1974, currently sailing in Marblehead, MA.

12 Metre US-25  Mariner  – Built 1974, America’s Cup Contender 1974.

12 Metre US-26  Courageous  – Built 1974, America’s Cup Winner 1974 & 1977, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-27  Enterprise  – Built 1977, America’s Cup Contender 1977.

12 Metre US-28  Independence  – Built 1976, America’s Cup Contender 1977.

12 Metre US-29  Clipper  – Built 1980, America’s Cup Contender 1980.

12 Metre US-30  Freedom  – Built 1979, America’s Cup Winner 1980, currently sailing in Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-32  Clipper  – Built 1980, America’s Cup Contender 1980.

12 Metre US-33  Defender  – Built 1982, 1983 America’s Cup contender built at Newport Onshore, Newport, RI.

12 Metre US-34  Spirit of America  – Built 1982, later rebuilt as  Stars & Stripes ‘83 .

12 Metre US-38  Magic  – Built 1982.

12 Metre US-40  Liberty  – Built 1983, America’s Cup Defender 1983.  Liberty  lost the Cup defense to  Australia II  (12 Metre KA-6), thus ending the New York Yacht Club’s 132 year domination of the America’s Cup. To this day it remains the longest winning streak in the history of organized sports.

12 Metre US-42  America II  – Built 1984, all three of the  America II  boats were built for the New York Yacht Club’s 1987 campaign to win the America’s Cup back.

12 Meter US-44  America II  – Built 1985.

12 Metre US-46  America II  – Built 1986, currently owned by Manhattan Sailing Club Syndicate of New York Harbor, North Cove, New York, NY under the name  America II

12 Metre US-49  USA 1  – Built 1985, San Francisco syndicate for 1987 America’s Cup.

12 Metre US-50  USA 2  – Built 1987, San Francisco syndicate for 1987 America’s Cup.

12 Metre US-51  Heart Of America  – Built 1986, Chicago Yacht Club syndicate for 1987 America’s Cup.

12 Metre US-53  Stars & Stripes ‘83  – Built 1985.  Stars & Stripes ’83  was actually a rebuilt and redesigned  Spirit Of America  (US-34). She was modified for use as a 1987 America’s Cup challenger candidate by the San Diego Yacht Club, but passed over for her sister boat, US-55.

12 Metre US-54  Stars & Stripes ‘85  – Built 1986.

12 Metre US-55  Stars & Stripes ‘87  – Built 1986, America’s Cup Winner 1987. After losing the Cup in 1983 on the New York Yacht Club’s  Liberty  (12 Metre US-40), Dennis Conner set up his own team backed by the San Diego Yacht Club. It was on  Stars & Stripes ‘87  that Conner won back the cup for the United States, beating the Australian defender  Kookaburra III  (12 Metre KA-15). In doing so, Conner became the only skipper in America’s Cup history to lose the Cup and then win it back again. 1987 would be the last year that the 12 Metre design would be used for America’s Cup racing.  Stars & Stripes ‘87  is currently sailing in St. Maarten.

12 Metre US-56  Stars & Stripes ‘86  – Built 1986. Another sister boat of  Stars & Stripes ’87  (US-55). The trials between US-56 and US-55 were so close that Dennis Conner did not make his decision to race US-55 until a few days before the America’s Cup races were to begin.)

12 Metre US-60  Eagle  – Built 1986, Newport Beach, California Yacht club syndicate for 1987 America’s Cup.

12 Metre US-61  USA  – Built 1986, America’s Cup Contender 1987. Renamed  Ecosse , currently sailing in the Mediterranean.

• March 29 Spirit Week Day 5: Juniors sweep spring rally
• March 28 Spirit Week Day 4: Students and faculty dress as “twins,” build Lego castles
• March 28 Editorial: Irresponsible driving endangers community
• March 28 More than just a punchline
• March 28 Athletes tackle concussion recovery
• March 28 Clearing challenges and building onwards
• March 28 Global Reset: Energy use sparks climate concern
• March 28 True love? Couples should dump dating shows
• March 28 Ice breaking, victory chasing
• March 28 Watch out for these watches

Harker Aquila

• Online Exclusive

Maui stories: America II review

by Mercedes Chien and Allison Sun | June 25, 2012

America II sits at the Lahaina dock where it sails along Maui’s west coast, giving a once in a lifetime experience for visitors. The yacht was an America’s Cup contender in 1987, but it was eliminated by another American boat.

The powerful gusts of winds envelop the yacht, propelling it and tilting it to a near 90 degrees. The further along it sails, the rougher the course. It’s dramatic, it’s wild, it’s wet, and it’s a hell of a ride.

Stretching 65 feet in length and 12.5 feet in width with a 77 feet high mast extending from the deck, America II , managed by a Maui charter business, settled in Hawaii in 1989 after being auctioned off following the America’s Cup, an international sailing competition. On an average day, the ship sets sail three times for tourist rides with the exception of winter days when an extra trip is offered for whale watching.

The escapade begins in tranquility; the mellifluous sound of the rippling waves fills the air, while riders are cautioned of the roaring waves ahead and crewmen assume the position to prepare the mast.

In no time, the unperturbed journey takes a 180-degree turn. Sailing at a maximum speed of 10.8 nautical miles per hour, the gentle rocking of the boat transforms into extreme sways, and passengers are instructed to grip a red rope along the edges of the boat. As buckets of water are washed aboard, unlucky passengers are drenched from head to toe, while others feel only a few spritzes of water.

As the powerful wind shakes the yacht, crewmen turn off the motor and set the mast. Now, all that can be heard are the screams of wet passengers from the slaps of the icy ocean water and the sound of the royal blue waves collapsing and crashing. Just when the flooding seems to have ceased, another wave abruptly crashes into the bow of the yacht and tips it to one side.

Amidst the boisterous cries, Captain John Moore and crewmate Elliott Smith lounged at the stern, recounting their overseas experiences after briefly discussing the yacht’s history. Moore shared how his love for sailing originated from his childhood spent living on a boat, whereas Smith, a recent high school graduate, revealed his passion for the seafaring job despite initially working merely to earn money.

When the course’s dripping thrills are finally over, the yacht steadily enters placid waters and slowly drifts with the winds. Simple snacks and cold drinks are provided for passengers mid-way into the journey. With the motor off and mast set, looking out into the distance as the horizon backs away from industrialization and enters the primordial stages of life – land, air, and water – juxtaposes the previous uneven, calamitous excitement.

The round trip back parallels the first half of the journey as riders attempt to absorb as much of nature’s beauty – the Lahaina dock, the perpetuating horizon, and the massive mountains – as possible within the last portion of the two-hour trip.

Needless to say, America II has come a long way from its origins at the New York Yacht Club, where it was birthed in hopes of becoming the challenger in the 1987 America’s Cup. Falling short at the challenger trials a few months before the actual Cup, America II then retired and was retrofitted to accommodate its purposes now. At the time, 11 crewmembers were required to navigate the yacht; today, only two are needed to complete the task while 22 passengers can bask in the sunlight and immerse themselves in their own ocean adventures.

From shrieks of terror to shrieks of delight, those aboard America II are in for one spectacular excursion, in which they embrace the captivating beauty of Maui, the fleeting heartbeats of the yacht’s upright tilt, and the drenching aftermath of the rolling waves.

Mercedes Chien is the design editor for The Winged Post. This is her fourth year in the program and previous positions she's held include Photography and...

A member of the journalism program since freshman year, senior Allison Sun is the Features Editor and Webmaster of Harker Aquila. She was also TalonWP...

Global Headlines (March 2024)

Severe drought in Panama slashes traffic in canal by a third

Global Headlines (January 2024)

Editor's Pick

7.6-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan on New Year’s Day

Global Headlines (Issue 3)

Russia conducts massive nuclear strike drill, withdraws from test ban treaty

Global Headlines (Issue 1)

Kahramanmaras earthquake strikes Turkey, Syria

Global Headlines (Issue 4)

United States sends $275 million more in aid to Ukraine

12 METRE YACHT CLUB

Home of newport's 12mr racing fleet.

AMERICA II US-46

America II US-46

Designer: M. William Langan, Sparkman & Stephens | Builder: Williams & Manchester Shipyard

Year Built: 1986 | Other Names: Fiddler (1993)

Length Overall: 20.14m

Beam: 3.70m | Draft 2.74m

Construction: aluminum alloy

First Owner: America II Syndicate

2019 America II (US-46) competed in the Spirit Division of the 2019 12mR World Championship racing against her sister-12, America II (US-42). Both teams were comprised of members of the Manhattan Yacht Club. In the series of 9 match races, US-46 narrowly took first place over US-42 by just one point (16-15).

2011- present In 2011 the Syndicate members from the Manhattan Yacht Club decided to donate America II US-46 to the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation, a charity whose mission is to foster and promote amateur sailing of national and international importance in New York Harbor.  As an icon of American sailing history, America II US-46 is an excellent vehicle to further this mission. The Foundation’s goal is to operate America II covering costs and also being able to invest in the needed care and maintenance. America II US-46 is available for charter.

2007-2011 Purchased in 2007 by a group of members from the Manhattan Yacht Club of New York who formed a “12 Meter Syndicate”, America II, US-46 sailed and raced in Newport, RI and New York Harbor as the flagship of the club for several years.

1993-2003 Re-named Fiddler , raced in the Newport, RI area

1986-1989 Built according to the Third International Rule America’s Cup by America II Syndicate, USMMA Foundation – name: America II – home port: Kings Point, NY (USA).

Jump to Twelve Metre Yacht Club, Newport Station Fleet page for America II (US-46)

*Content courtesy: The Twelve Metre Class by Dyer Jones & Luigi Lang and New York Harbor Sailing Foundation

Share this:

Leave a comment cancel reply.

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

12 Meters US 42 & US 46

Historic. Iconic. Come sail these America's Cup 12 Meters.

12 Meters have captured the imagination of sailors for many generations. They are beautiful and iconic boats that raced for the America’s Cup from 1958 to 1987.

The 12 Meter class embodies the spirit and tradition of American yachting.

The New York Harbor Sailing Foundation is restoring and preserving two of these historic 12 Meters for future generations. They are US 42 & US 46, both built for the 1987 America’s Cup in Australia, and both named “America II.”

US 46 was acquired by a group of visionary Members to help celebrate Manhattan Yacht Club’s 20th Anniversary in 2007. The Club restored US 46 and then donated her to the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation to help ensure her preservation.

In 2015, the Foundation also acquired the second America II ( US 42). Then in 2017, on the 30th Anniversary of the America’s Cup Races in Fremantle, Australia, both US 42 & US 46 began match racing in New York Harbor.

The NYHSF 12 Meter Program

Click here for the 2022 12 Meter Heritage Regatta

The New York Harbor Sailing Foundation’s  12 Meter Program  is an invitation to a select group of sailing enthusiasts to help support and preserve two America’s Cup 12 Meters. These yachts are important pieces of American yachting history.

The 12 Meter class has inspired many generations of sailors. They are iconic and majestic yachts which personify the beauty of sailing.  12 Meters are the pinnacle of American yachting tradition.

12 Meters & the America’s Cup

In 1907, the International Rule (also known as the Meter Rule) was established by the new International Yacht Racing Union to coordinate international racing. This rule led to the development of the many classes and the most popular were the 15 Meter, 12 Meter, 8 Meter and 6 Meter. 12 Meters were used in the Olympics from 1908 to 1920 and over the years, more than 300 yachts have been built under the 12 Meter rule.

In 1958, the 12 Meter class was selected to revive the America’s Cup Races. This catapulted the 12 Meter class into the limelight and they became the most iconic and famous yachts in American history.

12 Meters raced for the America’s Cup from 1958 to 1987. The names of yachts like Intrepid, Courageous, Australia II and Stars & Stripes helped define these generations.

12 Meters in the America’s Cup Finals, 1958 to 1983

When Australia won the America’s Cup in 1983, many tears were shed. But in fact, this loss would lead to the greatest America’s Cup in history, and the peak of the 12 Meter class. Here comes 1987 and one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.

1987 & the Greatest Year of the America’s Cup

America II (US 46) Comes to NY Harbor

On the 20 th Anniversary of the Manhattan Yacht Club in 2007, a group of visionary Members responded to the Commodore’s suggestion to commemorate the occasion by doing something special – acquiring a 12 Meter. This is how US 46 came to New York harbor. Read more about this story .

Acquisition of the Second 12 Meter

Frequently in life, the most interesting opportunities arrive at the most inopportune times. In 2015, the opportunity arrived to acquire a second 12 Meter, US 46’s sistership. The Foundation decided to “Go For It.”  Read more about this story. 

What our program is trying to accomplish:

The main goal of the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation’s 12 Meter Program is: to be a good caretaker of these important pieces of American yachting history.

This means raising enough money to properly restore, maintain and preserve these 12 Meters. This also means building an endowment so the 12 Meters continue to inspire after we are gone. And finally, this means sailing these iconic 12 Meters so they inspire and engage more people.

We accomplish these goals by inviting people who care about sailing and historic preservation to join our 12 Meter Syndicate  “ Syndicate Member ” and make annual donations to support this program. In addition to donations made by Syndicate Members, the Foundation generates revenue by selling tickets to paying passengers and offering private charters. Our main annual fundraiser is the 12 Meter Dinner before the Sailors Ball in April.

How You Can Get Involved

If you are a sailing enthusiast and would like to help with the restoration and preservation of these iconic 12 Meters, please consider this an invitation to join the effort. This is a rare opportunity to be part of something historically significant and special.

CLICK HERE to Join the NYHSF 12 Meter Syndicate

You do not have to be an experienced sailor to support this mission of historic preservation. If you are a novice sailor or just a sailing enthusiast, this is an opportunity to get more involved in the world of sailing.

Comments are closed

Racing sailboat / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dear wikiwand ai, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:.

Can you list the top facts and stats about America II?

Summarize this article for a 10 year old

America II is a racing sailboat and one of the final America's Cup 12 Meters . There were a total of three America II s commissioned for the New York Yacht Club's challenge in the 1987 America's Cup . These were US 42, 44 & 46 and all boats were named America II .

America II (US 46), skippered by John Kolius , competed in the 1987 Louis Vuitton Cup which was held in Fremantle, Australia running up to the America's Cup. The New York Yacht Club syndicate, competing as US Merchant Marine Academy Foundation, were the first to arrive in Fremantle in 1984. It had two 12-Meter boats, US 42 and US 44 (both named America II ) sailing in the following year. A third sister boat, US 46 arrived shortly after. The challenge cost the NYYC and their partners US$15 Million. [1] The America II Challenge was a partnership of the America II team, the New York Yacht Club and the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and included 34 affiliated U.S. yacht clubs, three corporate sponsors and over 115 corporate contributors. [2]

America II (US 42), competing at Fremantle, was the first of three new 12-meters that represented the syndicate and has seven sets of wings that can be snapped on and off her keel at will. "We've probably imported more lead into Western Australia than anybody else," said Kolius. [3]

1985 Cadillac Cup Regatta

America II (US 42) competed and won in the inaugural Cadillac Cup Regatta 2-1 and appeared as an early favorite for the America's Cup Challenge. John Kolius' team raced Tom McLaughlin and his team in the two day event. [4] The regatta took place July 27–28 in Newport, RI and marked the culmination of America II's Summer Training. On August 7, shortly after the Cadillac Cup, US 42 and US 44 we shipped via container to Perth, Australia to begin a second full season of training on October 5, 1985.

1986 12 Meter World Championship

John Kolius and his America II (US 42) team finished third and was the top American contender in the World Championship races which ended February 18, 1986 in Perth, Australia. [2] However, many of the American teams did not participate in the regatta either for strategic or logistical reasons.

The crew was plagued with bad luck on the water and a bad press on land. A bungled jibe that mangled a spinnaker, a split mainsail and a man overboard made her race results worse than her sailing performance actually was. She led the last race until the final leg and in other heats she was able to close in on the leaders, but she couldn't pull out a win. [3]

Thomas Ehman Jr., executive director of the America II syndicate, said the America II team entered US 42 in the competition because they saw it as the slowest of its new boats. [5]

The series consisted of seven fleet races, unlike the traditional America's Cup format of match-racing one-on-one. [5]

America II , Australia II , and Australia III lost the first race to the New Zealand "Plastic Fantastic", which had only been launched a few weeks earlier.

1987 Louis Vuitton Cup

The 1987 Louis Vuitton Cup regatta was staged in three round-robin stages, with points awarded on an increasing scale for later the rounds in an attempt to favor the fastest boats at the end of the series. The top four boats were then placed in an elimination series to select the challenger. The first round robin saw three boats standout, America II (US 46) of the New York Yacht Club, Stars and Stripes 87 and the surprise of the regatta, KZ 7 , all of which finished the first round robin with 11-1 records. The second round saw Stars & Stripes struggle. Conner's boat was optimized for heavy airs, and suffered from a shortage of sails for lighter breezes. When a spell of Easterlies settled over Western Australia she was caught out of her element and dropped four races. She lost to Tom Blackaller and USA in 5 to 10 knot winds, and the following day to the Kiwis, even though the breeze had picked up to 22 knots. On the ninth day she lost again to the British team White Crusader in 4 to 6 knots breeze, and the following day to Canada II , whom she had led around the final mark but was caught out when the breeze died away. [9] The Kiwis continued to dominate the regatta, winning every one of their eleven match races, while America II continued to make a strong showing with a 9-2 record. The third round saw a change in fortunes. America II simply was unable to continue to improve her speed, while other boats were making improvements and getting faster. She struggled to a 6-5 record in the final round. What was a strong performance coming in simply was not enough by the third round, and their loss to KZ 7 placed them out of the running for the Semis. The loss meant the New York Yacht Club was eliminated for the first time in Cup history. USA with her unique design was finally showing her potential, as Tom Blackaller became better versed in handling the boat with the forward canard or rudder. Marc Pajot's French Kiss upset America II and found her way into the Semis. [10]

The 1987 America's Cup was eventually won by Dennis Conner on Stars & Stripes 87 (US 55).

Modern Day Racing

While 12 meters have been replaced by newer formats in the America's Cup they are still raced today. America II along with Australia II and all 12 meters built for the 1987 America's Cup are included in the Grand Prix Division.

Yachts in the Grand Prix Division race to the full Class Rule with no concessions, unlike their older peers. The generational divisions and 12-Meter-specific ratings system helps guide owners into the boat that best fits their objectives and budget. Given that the current Grand Prix division is made up of yachts designed for the heavy air of Fremantle, Australia they do not fair as well in less dramatic winds. To make them competitive in lighter-air venues like Newport, R.I., and the Mediterranean, owners may reconfigure the boats' rating trade-offs of length, displacement, and sail area. Additionally, advancements in hydrodynamic design require owners of Fremantle 12-Meters to fit new appendages in order to be fully competitive. Improvements in spars, hardware, and sails demand new purchases, as well. The cost of an unimproved Grand Prix yacht is only the tip of the financial iceberg, but a fully improved GP 12-Meter still offers good value for a 14-person, ~65-foot racing yacht. [6]

In 2015 the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation signed a deal to acquire US 42, the sister-ship to America II US 46. Once restorations to US 42 were completed there would then be two identical 12 Meters sailing and racing in the New York harbor. US 42 was dry docked in Newport for restoration through early 2017. As of summer 2017, US 42 joined sister ship US 46 for Match Racing in NY Harbor. [7] [8]

US 44 was the second America II built and was launched 1985. In November 1988 she was sold and shipped to Seattle for a refit to bring her into compliance with Coast Guard charter vessel requirements, before ultimately arriving in Honolulu, HI. It used to operate as a charter boat in Hawaii and had been heavily modified to accommodate pleasure cruises off the Hawaiian coast, including a smaller rig and seating for paid passengers. For many years, US 44 could be sailed double-handed from the aft cockpit while carrying up to 29 passengers where the trimming and grinding equipment was originally installed. As of 2015, US44 was not sailing and is believed to have been sold for scrap. [9]

US 46 was the final America II built and was launched in 1986, she was shipped on June 6, 1986 to Perth Australia to join her sister ships. After the 1987 Cup, America II US 46 was shipped back to the United States. She was the star in the movie Wind as Radiance and later Geronimo, and then continued sailing in Newport, RI under the name Fiddler from 1993 to 2003. [10]

A group of members from the Manhattan Yacht Club formed a syndicate to purchased her in 2007 to celebrate the club's 20th anniversary. She was then donated to the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation in 2012. [11] She is now operated by the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation and serves as a sailing ambassador and one of the flagships of the harbor. [11] US 46 is available for public sails and private charter in New York City.

1986 Special Edition Cadillac Eldorado

America II was the subject of several partnerships and corporate sponsors, not the least of which was Cadillac. Cadillac in partnership with the America II Syndicate produced the America II Limited Edition Eldorado, which originally retailed for $26,000. It featured two-tone paint , unique body striping, America II sail panel insignia, cassette player and a navy blue leather interior. The exterior is white with a light blue "water line" stripe on the bottom accompanied by a special wheel and trim package. The engine is a 4.1 liter, V8 and the transmission is a 4 speed automatic. Only 1,987 America II Eldorados were produced in reference to the 1987 America's Cup.

Skipper, John Kolius, was presented with the keys to the official car of the America II sailing team at the christening of US 46 in Newport, RI. [2]

• [2] "Special Edition Cadillac Sets Sail" . Retrieved 2016-07-02 .
• [3] Ballard, Sarah. "A Collision Course Down Under" . Retrieved 2016-07-03 .
• [4] "Cadillac & LaSalle Club Photo Gallery - 2015 Apr "The Self-Starter" teasers/America II Log cover-Fall 1985" . photos.cadillaclasalleclub.org . Retrieved 2016-07-02 .
• [5] Lloyd, Barbara (1986-01-26). "RACES MAY BE PREVIEW OF CUP" . The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2016-07-03 .
• [6] "Three Reasons to Buy a 12-Meter" . www.sailingworld.com . Retrieved 2016-06-13 .
• [7] nyharborsailing.com
• [8] "Supporting & Preserving 12 Meter America II - NY Harbor Sailing Foundation" . nyharborsailing.com . Archived from the original on 2016-05-16 . Retrieved 2016-06-13 .
• [9] "12 Metre Class | Yacht AMERICA II - US 44" . www.12mrclass.com . Retrieved 2016-07-03 .
• [10] "AMERICA II US-46" . 2015-02-05 . Retrieved 2016-07-02 .
• [11] "History of 12 Meter America II (US 46) - NY Harbor Sailing Foundation" . nyharborsailing.com . Archived from the original on 2016-07-11 . Retrieved 2016-06-13 .

External links

• Website of the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation
• Website of the Manhattan Yacht Club

• Meet the ITMA Team
• Class Rules
• Class By-Laws

12mR Database

• Measurement Certificates
• The 12mR Class by Luigi Lang & Dyer Jones- Volume 1
• The 12mR Class by Luigi Lang & Dyer Jones- Volume 2
• 2024 PORQUEROLLES
• 2023 NEWPORT
• 2021 HELSINKI
• 2019 NEWPORT
• 2014 BARCELONA
• 2011 FLENSBURG
• WORLD CHAMPIONS
• 2017-2019 Series
• 2021 Regattas
• 2020 Regattas
• 2019 Regattas
• 2018 Regattas
• 2017 Regattas
• 2016 Regattas
• 2015 Regattas
• 2014 Regattas
• 2013 Regattas
• 2012 Regattas
• 2011 Regattas
• AMERICAS FLEET
• NORTHERN EUROPE FLEET
• SOUTHERN EUROPE FLEET
• Americas Fleet
• N. Europe Fleet
• S. Europe Fleet
• Coupe de France Series
• LEGACY (KZ-5)
• VANITY V (K-5)
• VICTORY ’83 (K-22)
• WINGS (K-15)
• 12mRs for Charter
• 12mR Brand Guide
• 12mR Team Store

WORK IN PROGRESS…

Advance, KA-7

America II, US-42

America II, US-44

America II, US-46

American Eagle, US-21

Anitra, US-5

Aschanti III, G-3

Atalanta, K-5

Australia II, KA-6

Australia III, KA-9

Australia IV, KA-9

Australia, KA-5

Azzurra II, I-8

Azzurra III, I-10

Azzurra IV, I-11

Azzurra, I-4

Bloodhound, K-101

Blue Marlin, FIN-1

Canada I, KC-1

Canada II, KC-2

Cerigo, B-1

Challenge 12, KA-10

Challenge France, F-8

Chancegger, F-4

Clipper, US-32

Columbia, US-16

Constellation, US-20

Courageous, US-26

Crusader II, K-25

Crusader, K-24

Dame Pattie, KA-2

Danseuse, E-7

Davo III, E-9

Defender, US-33

Eagle, US-60

Easterner, US-18

Eileen, E-21

Emilia, I-2

Enterprise, US-27

Erne Signe, E-8

Evaine, K-2

Figaro III, N-1

Figaro IV, N-12

Figaro IV, N-6

Flica II, K-14

Flica, K-16

Foxhound, K-126

France I, F-1

France II (project)

France II, F-2

France III, F-3

Fraternitas

Freedom, US-30

French Kiss, F-7

Gleam, US-11

Gretel II, KA-3

Gretel, KA-1

Heart of America, US-51

Heatherbell

Heritage, US-23

Independence, US-28

Intrepid, US-22

Isolde, US-2

Italia I, I-7

Italia II, I-9

Iyruna, K-11

Javotte, E-5

Jenetta, K-1

Kiwi Magic, KZ-7

Kookaburra (project)

Kookaburra I, KA-11

Kookaburra II, KA-12

Kookaburra III, KA-15

La Spina, I-1

Lady, NOR-63

Le Cid, N-2

Legacy, KZ-5

Liberty, US-40

Lionheart, K-18

Little Astra

Magic, US-38

Mariner, US-25

Miquette, K-14

Mitena, US-10

Modesty, K-4

Mouette, K-15

Moyana 1926, K-3

Moyana 1929, K-3

Moyana II, K-8

Mylne Project #159

Nefertiti, US-19

New Zealand, KZ-3

Nini Anker, N-15

Noresca, K-9

Northern Light, US-14

Nyala, US-12

Onawa, US-6

Princess Svanevit, S-2

Sceptre, K-17

Seven Seas of Porto, US-9

Skeaf IV, E-5

South Australia, KA-8

Southern Cross, KA-4

Sovereign, K-12

Sphinx, G-4

Spirit of America, US-34

Stars & Stripes ’83, US-53

Stars & Stripes ’85, US-54

Stars & Stripes ’86, US-56

Stars & Stripes ’87, US-55

Steak ‘N Kidney, KA-14

Stiarna, K-218

Storm, E-31

Sverige, G-5

Tatjana, K-2

Tomahawk, K-13

Trivia, K-10

True North II

True North, KC-87

Tycoon, US-3

U.S.A, US-61

USA (E-1), US-49

Valiant, US-24

Vanity V, K-5

Vanity, K-1

Vema III, N-11

Veronica, K-10

Victory of Burnham, K-21

Victory ’83, K-22

Vineta, E-10

Waiandance, US-1

Weatherly, US-17

Westra, K-4

White Heather

White Streak

Wings, K-15

Zelita, K-9

Zoraida, K-8

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

AMERICA'S CUP

AMERICA'S CUP; Challengers and Defenders Are Ready to Sail

By Barbara Lloyd

• Sept. 28, 1986

The following descriptions of America's Cup contenders were prepared and written by Barbara Lloyd. UNITED STATES Syndicate: The America II Challenge Boat: America II Sponsor: New York Yacht Club Skipper: John Kolius Budget: $15 million Headquarters: Newport, R.I.

If grades meant anything in the America's Cup, the America II camp would get an A for effort. The team was the first to build a new boat for the 1986-87 races, and the first to begin practice sailing in Australian waters, two years ago. The New York Yacht Club's defeat in 1983 marked the end of a 132-year winning streak for the club. The group's budget is among the largest, and with three new boats and more than 50 of its personnel in Australia, the syndicate has a strong presence. New York and 34 affiliated clubs were called upon in the fund-raising effort. The syndicate struck gold in the corporate world, with several contributions of $1 million each. But money isn't everything, as was shown last February when America II placed third - behind the Australian team - in the 12-Meter World Championship, a kind of dress rehearsal for the Cup trials.

Syndicate: Sail America Boat: Stars & Stripes Sponsor: San Diego Yacht Club Skipper: Dennis Conner Budget: $15 million Headquarters: San Diego, Calif.

No one has more riding on this challenge than the man who lost the America's Cup: Dennis Conner of San Diego. He has fashioned a syndicate to his personal style. Three of America's top naval architects have created a fleet of four new 12-Meters named Stars & Stripes. In addition to engineers from Grumman Aerospace and the Boeing Company, Conner has enlisted the expertise of Scientific Applications International Corporation, a high-technology contractor. By using Liberty, the boat he skippered in 1983, as a basis for comparison, the syndicate was able to gauge whether the new boats were faster. Apparently they are. The syndicate announced last month that Liberty was for sale for $300,000. The 1985 and 1987 versions of Stars & Stripes are in Perth for the elimination trial races, and Conner recently announced that Stars and Stripes '87 would be used in competition. Conner is determined not to be beaten by a faster boat, as he was in 1983 when the 12-Meter Australia II beat Liberty. e Syndicate: Eagle Challenge Boat: Eagle Sponsor: rrNewport Harbor Yacht Club Skipper: Rod Davis Budget: $8.5 million Headquarters: Newport Beach, Calif.

Larger-than-life graphics of an eagle in flight sprawl across the hull of Eagle Challenge. The syndicate has decided against hiding the boat's winged keel, as other groups are doing. Johan Valentijn, the designer of Eagle, insists that every boat will have winged appendages in Perth, and that there is no point in hiding them. Eagle is his fifth America's Cup contender; his last was Liberty. While the Dutch-born designer maintains artistic license, he has not shut the door on technology. Arvel Gentry, an aerospace scientist at Boeing in Seattle, volunteered his time to help Valentijn design the wings. The group has found fund-raising arduous. Syndicate: Heart of America Boat: Heart of America Sponsor: Chicago Yacht Club Skipper: Buddy Melges Budget: $7 million Headquarters: Chicago

Chicago is new to this game. The city had to go to the State Supreme Court of New York, where the America's Cup deed of gift was filed in 1857, to ask for permission to race. Rules in the deed say that a challenging yacht club must hold its annual regatta on the sea, or an arm of the sea. The Chicago Yacht Club argued that the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes constituted an arm of the sea, and the court agreed. The Midwest has rallied behind its skipper, Buddy Melges. In the days before the syndicate raised any of the $5 million it has to date, Melges swore he would get to Fremantle, even if it meant that his team had to pitch tents next to the fancy condominiums of wealthier syndicates. Chicago will be relying on the wizardry of Melges, but the team does have a place to live in Perth - and it's a condominium. Syndicate: St. Francis Golden Gate Boat: USA Sponsor: St. Francis Yacht Club Skipper: Tom Blackaller Budget: $10 million Headquarters: San Francisco

San Francisco city officials seem convinced that the America's Cup series belongs in that city. The bay beneath the Golden Gate Bridge might be a natural staging area for spectators to watch future Cup races. The St. Francis Yacht Club's 1,300 regular members agreed to an additional assessment of $360 each to defray syndicate expenses. Tom Blackaller, Golden Gate's skipper, tends to boast about San Francisco as much as he touts his crew. More than $7 million has been raised. The syndicate has built two new boats: The first was labeled an evolutionary design, or E1, and the second, a revolutionary boat, R1. R1 has proved to be the faster of the two. It was shipped to Australia with nearly as much secrecy as the Australians insisted upon in 1983. More San Francisco's high-tech approach may have turned out a boat that is more radical than most. Syndicate: Courageous Challenge Boat: Courageous IV Sponsor: Yale Corinthian Yacht Club Skipper: David Vietor Budget: $11.2 million Headquarters: White Plains, N.Y.

The Courageous Challenge was one of the early risers in the 1986-87 campaign, but it might be one of the first to fall. The syndicate started out by modifying Courageous, the boat that won the America's Cup races in 1974 and 1977, and was a serious contender in 1980. Leonard Greene, the founder of the syndicate, is an inventor with more than 60 patents to his name and an expert in aerospace engineering. But his America's Cup syndicate isn't as successful. Legal battles with its initial backer have drained the syndicate of both its money and energy. CANADA Syndicate: Canada's Challenge for America's Cup Boat: Canada II Sponsor: Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron Skipper: Terry Neilson Budget: $13 million Headquarters: Toronto

A group from Halifax, Nova Scotia, built two new 12-Meters under the True North name. A group from Vancouver, British Columbia, chose to modify an old boat, Canada I, designed by Bruce Kirby, a Canadian living in Rowayton, Conn. Finances eventually gave way, and a pact was made: The fastest boat would carry the Canadian banner to Perth. Kirby won. New funding was found, and Canada II stands ready in Fremantle. Kirby has given Canada II a winged keel, and the boat has done well. BRITAIN Syndicate: The British America's Cup Challenge Boat: Crusader Sponsor: Royal Thames Yacht Club Skipper: Harold Cudmore Budget: $6.8 million Headquarters: London

Diana, Princess of Wales, broke a champagne bottle over the bow of Crusader, the first of the British team's two new boats. The second came out of the shed about six months later. The first model represents the syndicate's conservative design and is a refinement of two previous British 12-Meters created by Ian Howlett. The second Crusader is something else. Designed by a British boat model maker, David Hollom, it is unusually long for a 12-Meter. While most other 12's are close to 70 feet, his is about 75. Its hull is extremely full below the waterline, a feature that quickly prompted the nickname Hippo. The team formed a public company to finance the campaign. Two weeks ago, Guiness announced that it will back the group with a $1.6 million sponsorship package to promote its White Horse Scotch Whiskey. With that, the boat's name was changed to White Crusader. FRANCE Syndicate: Challenge KIS France Boat: French Kiss Sponsor: Societe Des Regates Rochelaises Skipper: Marc Pajot Budget: $10 million Headquarters: La Rochelle

The French America's Cup team is young and brash. The name French Kiss comes from the team's sponsor, KIS France, the international photo development firm. The name is a new twist for a regatta in which most boat names are larger than life - Freedom, Defender, Liberty - but whether it will stand up to the scrutiny of the racing rules remains to be seen. Boats may not be named after their sponsor. Marc Pajot, the skipper, is a sports hero in France, an offshore multihull sailor who is equally at ease racing a monohull inshore. French Kiss proved to be fast during skirmishes in Fremantle last winter, and has been given a new keel. The camp also may turn up with extraordinary sails. The same material that was designed by the French for a space research balloon is being used in its mainsail. Syndicate: French Challenge for the America's Cup Boat: Challenge France Sponsor: Societe Nautique de Marseille Skipper: Yves Pajot Budget: $6 million Headquarters: Marseille

Yves Pajot, Marc's brother, for is the skipper of Challenge France, whose syndicate has been in and out of bankruptcy court. By July, the new boat still wasn't finished, and it wasn't until mid-August that the team knew whether it was going to Australia. But finally, new sponsorship revitalized the group. The Challenge France was rushed aboard a cargo vessel bound for Australia. The hull was built by Aerospatiale, a leading French aircraft manufacturer. And the finished boat reportedly carries sophisticated computer equipment. But the group has only 30 people in Fremantle to tend to the boat, a skeleton crew. ITALY Syndicate: Consorzio Azzurra Boat: Azzurra Sponsor: Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Skipper: Mauro Pellaschier Budget: $10.7 million Headquarters: Milan

The Azzurra team entered its first America's Cup competition in 1983. At the time, crew members were inexperienced. But hard work and determination found them a solid niche among challengers. This time, with 13 challengers instead of seven, the job might be harder. The syndicate coffer is rich enough, and its sponsor - the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Sardinia - is a base for the Aga Khan, whose interest in sports runs from race horses to luxury yachts. The hiring and dismissal of key crew members has kept the camp in a perpetual state of flux. But a certain amount of pride went into the last Italian Cup effort, and leading commercial interests hope to revive that memory. Two new 12-Meters have been designed by Andreas Valicelli, the same naval architect who created the 1983 boat. Others pressed for a third boat, one that was already on the drawing board of the Sciomachen design firm from Bologna. Now the syndicate has to choose one. Syndicate: Consorzio Italia Boat: Italia Sponsor: Yacht Club Italiano Skipper: Aldo Migliaccio Budget: $8.6 million Headquarters: Milan

The Italia syndicate entered the world of America's Cup in style. It was in 1984, and the place was the Azzurra compound at Porto Cervo, Sardinia. The Aga Khan was staging the first 12-Meter world championship, and eight international crews raced, including his own. The Italia crewmen showed up resplendent in blue and yellow Gucci shoes, jackets, shirts, vests and shorts. Few took them seriously at first, but Italia won that regatta - albeit with help in the cockpit from the United States Olympic champion, Rod Davis - and there has been no stopping them since. The syndicate is fueled by 12 corporate sponsors, and the group has built two new boats. It appears that Italia II will be its choice. Like their Azzurra counterparts, there has been internal strife. And the syndicate had the misfortune last June of watching Italia II dropped from a crane within a few days of its launching. The boat was damaged severely, but was rebuilt. NEW ZEALAND Syndicate: Cup Challenge Ltd. Boat: New Zealand Sponsor: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Skipper: Chris Dickson Budget: $8 million Headquarters: Auckland

A song about sailing has reached the top of the record charts in New Zealand. Titled ''Sailing Away,'' it is about New Zealand's quest for the America's Cup. New Zealanders have a mania for yachting events anyway, but few other challengers have come so far in so little time. It wasn't until mid-1985 that the initial syndicate backing was in place from Michael Fay, a leading New Zealand merchant banker. Since then, the government-supported Bank of New Zealand has become a major sponsor. The syndicate has been bold in its management decisions. It put together a huge team, told members not to worry about expenses, and set them to work around the clock. Instead of building an aluminum 12-Meter, as others have done, they built three fiberglass boats. The first two were completed within days of the 12-Meter World Championship in Australia last winter. One placed second, ahead of America II and Australia II. AUSTRALIA

The Australian boats are sponsored by the Royal Perth Yacht Club, the defending club. Syndicate: America's Cup Defence 1987 Ltd. Boat: Australia III or IV Skipper: Colin Beashel Budget: $11 million Headquarters: Perth The man whose team won the Cup in 1983 is faced now with trying to defend it. Alan Bond, an Australian multimillionaire, spent as much as $16 million and a decade to win yachting's oldest trophy. Winning was a triumph, but apparently not enough. The 1987 defense effort is costing twice the 1983 price. Bond is not footing the bill himself. A large fund-raising network has sprung up across Australia. The money is going into Bond's two-boat effort. But he is up against stiff competition from his countrymen, whom he must beat to win the right to be named defender. Syndicate: Taskforce '87 Defence Boat: Kookaburra Skipper: Iain Murray Budget: $9.8 million Headquarters: Perth

Kookaburra is an Australian bird. In the yacht racing world, it has also come to mean a powerful 12-Meter that could upset Bond. It is ''an aggressive, determined bird, quite capable of eliminating any opposition,'' said Kevin Parry, the wealthy Australian businessman who is funding the syndicate. The syndicate has launched three new 12-Meters over the last two years. The Bond camp chides Parry and his team for being overly aggressive. But Kookaburra is seen as a possible stumbling block to the defense. Syndicate: South Australian Boat: South Australia Skippers: Phil Thompson and John Savage Budget: $4.3 million Headquarters: Adelaide

The team from Adelaide has surfaced as the country cousin of Bond's syndicate. Sir James Hardy, an Australian winemaker who is also one of Australia's most respected yachtsmen, has been the catalyst. The city is located on the Indian Ocean in Australia's central Outback. Hardy has the credentials for America's Cup sailing, but his team hasn't had the financial backing that Bond has. Bond and Hardy share a yacht designer, Ben Lexcen. The South Australia boat is reportedly similar in shape to Bond's new Australia III. But the likeness ends there. Hardy hasn't as experienced a crew, nor the same resources at his disposal. Syndicate: Eastern Australia America's Cup Defense Boat: Steak'N Kidney Skipper: Gary Sheard Budget: $2.4 million Headquarters: Sydney

The name for Australia's East Coast boat was not what the yachting establishment in Sydney might have hoped. The name Steak 'N Kidney was devised to appeal to the masses in a last-minute appeal for money. There is a rough slang to the phrase; when spoken fast, the name sounds like Sydney, the eastern capital. Sid Fischer, a Sydney businessman, formed the syndicate on the foundation of his ill-fated 1983 America's Cup campaign. The fact that the boat was tank-tested in the Netherlands, where Australia II was developed in 1983, is its best advantage.

America Ii - 12 Meter America's Cup Sail Yacht

Services Offered

Verified by Business

Community Service/Non-Profit

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

375 S End Ave

New York, NY 10280

Battery Park

You Might Also Consider

South Sudan Villages Clinic

It takes a child to raise a village. Founded by "Lost Boy" Fidele Dhan, this 7-room clinic has provided help 56,000 times in 5 years. This Buffalo, NY based non-profit runs on $36,000 a year. read more

in Community Service/non-profit

Karen Ann Charters

Karen Ann Charters offers a unique personalized fishing adventure. I have a fleet of 7 boats each specifically for budgets and types of fishing. Light tackle back bay and deep sea I have the board covered. Live bait and light tackle… read more

in Boat Charters, Boat Tours, Fishing

Amenities and More

About the business.

Business owner information

NY Harbor Sailing Foundation N.

12 Meters have captured the imagination of sailors for many generations. The 12 Meter class embodies the spirit and tradition of American yachting. America II (US 46) is one of the final America's Cup 12 Meters. She was built in 1987 for the Cup races in Freemantle, Australia. America II is owned and operated by the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation. The Foundation is working to preserve the spirit and history of America II for future generations. We now make America II available for private sails - join us for a high-speed, unforgettable ride on the Hudson river to enjoy the views on the statue of liberty, NYC skyline and sunset over NJ. …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about America Ii - 12 Meter America's Cup Sail Yacht .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

4 reviews that are not currently recommended

The Junkluggers of the Lower Hudson Valley

M.S. C. said "Planning to sell my weekend house in Warwick. Did not realize the amount of junk accumulated in 16 years. After donating what we can, I was faced with the taunting task of removing everything. Thank goodness I found Junkluggers of…" read more

in Junk Removal & Hauling, Thrift Stores

General Grill by Mr Chimney

21.6 miles away from this business

General Grill is a gas grill sales and grill repair service. We install sell gas grills, install gas grills and repair gas grills in Westchester County, Putnam County, Rockland County, NY and Fairfield county, CT. Brought to you by… read more

in Grill Services

Best of New York

Things to do in New York

Other Places Nearby

Find more Boating near America Ii - 12 Meter America's Cup Sail Yacht

Find more Community Service/Non-Profit near America Ii - 12 Meter America's Cup Sail Yacht

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Things to Do

Pirate Ship

Boating Near Me

Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me

Playhouses for Sale Near Me

Related Cost Guides

Carpet Cleaning

Hydro-jetting

Machine and Tool Rental

Metal Fabricators

Musical Instrument Services

Powder Coating

Well Drilling

• 5 More Cost Guides

People Also Viewed

Serge Elevator Co

Promedia Technology Services

Mighty Max Battery

Catholic Charities Ozanam Inn Men’s Shelter

David Lynch Foundation

Guardsman Elevators

Ashenfelter 8K Classic

Nordic Metal

Nu Valet Cleaners

Published on December 4th, 2019 | by Editor

Beginning and end of the yacht America

Published on December 4th, 2019 by Editor -->

With the frequent sighting of the yacht America on San Diego Bay, well-handled and beautiful under sail, the history of the America’s Cup is never far from view. In this report by Dr. Hamish Ross , he provides the detailed version.

On the 15 November 1850, George Schuyler on behalf of a syndicate of five, including himself and Commodore John Cox Stevens and William Brown, signed a contract to build a New York pilot schooner for the Great Exhibition, due to be opened by Queen Victoria in Hyde Park, London on Thursday 1 May 1851. The contract was for $30,000.00, conditioned on her being the fastest yacht in the United States. Unfortunately, she was delivered a month late and failed to defeat Commodore Stevens’ Maria during her trials. Left with the prospect of selling a failed yacht and in deep financial trouble, Brown had little option but to accept a ‘take it or leave it’ price reduction of $10,000.00 by Schuyler.

America under construction in New York in 1851.

During the building, her owner’s plans for England changed and the America would be diverted to the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) in Cowes after an invitation was received from RYS Commodore, the 2nd Earl of Wilton, inviting the owners to enjoy the hospitality of the Squadron during the yachting season.

The Earl had been born Thomas Grosvenor, the second son of the Marquess of Westminster (the title was later elevated to a dukedom in 1874 – the last non-royal dukedom to be created). Wilton served as Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron for thirty-two years between 1849 to 1881.

On 22 August 1851, America raced against 15 yachts in the Royal Yacht Squadron’s “all nations” race around the Isle of Wight. America won, finishing 8 minutes ahead of the closest rival. After 1851, the America went through a number of owners, including service as a Confederate blockade runner under the name of the Memphis, being scuttled in Jacksonville, later raised to serve in the US Navy, and was raced by the Navy in the 1870 America’s Cup fleet race match (winning fourth place).

She was sold into private ownership in 1873 to Benjamin Butler, a controversial Union Army Major-General and later a colorful politician and lawyer. Under Butler’s ownership, the America underwent two major refits in 1875 and again in 1885.

© Dani Tagen

She was donated to the US Navy in 1921 and was towed to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, as an on-water exhibit, where her condition gradually decayed. The onset of the Great Depression delayed the expenditure of an estimated $80,000.00 for a necessary refit.

Charles Francis Adams Jr., the America’s Cup winning skipper of Resolute in 1920, great-great grandson of the second US President John Adams, great grandson of the sixth President, John Quincy Adams, serving as the Secretary of the Navy, felt unable to approve the expenditure of such money in 1930 during the onset of the Depression.

She was classified as a Navy relic in 1941 (IX-41) and hauled out at the Annapolis Yacht Yard for work. Some preliminary was carried out on her from time to time, mainly stripping her back to sound timbers, but only around other more urgent work which took precedence.

The outbreak of the Second World War further delayed any thoughts of a determined restoration and her fate was sealed after a shed in which she was being housed in Annapolis collapsed during a severe snowstorm on the night of Palm Sunday, 29 March 1942.

The America being towed to Annapolis on what was to be her last voyage in 1921

When the War ended, the Navy was forced to cut back from its wartime budget and was busy decommissioning many of its ships. Nostalgia was in short supply in 1945 when it came to preserving famous ships. Her end was sealed on 20th November 1945 when the US Navy signed an order for her scrapping, when faced with a repair bill of $300,000.00.

The Navy received $990.90 for the scrapping of an icon.

One of the last photographs of the remains of the America before she was scrapped in 1945.

Many pieces of the America were souvenired and every now and then, pieces of the America come on the market, but rather like a ‘grandfather’s hammer’, it is rather hard to know if any piece offered dates from 1851 or was added later during one of its many refits. It is said, like relics of the ‘cross’, there are more pieces of wood claiming to be from the America than in a New England forest.

Three replicas of the America have been built. They were built in 1967 (Boothby, Maine), 1995 (Albany, New York), and in 2005 (Varna, Bulgaria) with varying degrees of authenticity some having an additional four feet of beam to increase accommodation and additional skylights. The first two are based in the US and the latter in Rostock, Germany sailing as the Skythia.

The America, the most famous yacht in the history of the sport of sailing, has bequeathed us a competition which represents the pinnacle of the sport in terms of technology, design, sailing skill, management, all these necessarily infused with smart strategic and tactical planning and execution, in which only the very best will win.

UPDATE 1 (Dec. 5, 2019) : Troy Sears, who owns and sails the replica in San Diego, CA, provides an update on the three boats:

The 1967 replica, commonly known as the “Rudy Schaefer” boat that you correctly state being built in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, was broken up several years ago due to rot. She spent most of her later years of her life in the Med, mostly in Barcelona and Genoa. She was a full-sized replica.

The Bulgarian replica, Skythia, is a fractional replica being about 60 tons as compared to ours which is 113 tons. I would say her design was inspired by the America but not so much a replica.

There are no original drawing available so nobody can be certain of the actual dimensions, but ours is thought to be as accurate as possible in terms of size. Also, I am happy to say that we are totally rot free and as long as I take good care of her, she will outlive me.

UPDATE 2 (Dec. 12, 2019): Marcello Grimaudo, who is Captain of the 1967 replica (below), informed us  the yacht is still sailing and in good shape but is now on drydock in Italy for a major restoration.

Tags: america , America's Cup , Hamish Ross

Related Posts

American Magic flies new boat to Barcelona →

Ep7: Road to the 37th America’s Cup →

Hydraulics: Key to the Cup? →

The Last Days of the Schooner America →

© 2024 Scuttlebutt Sailing News. Inbox Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved. made by VSSL Agency .

• Privacy Statement
• Advertise With Us

Get Your Sailing News Fix!

Your download by email.

• Your Name...
• Your Email... *
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

America II sets sail

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)

Daily News e-Edition

Evening e-Edition

• E-Newspaper
• National News
• Puzzles & Games
• Transportation

Photo gallery: America II Sails

In its prime, the America II represented New York City in an elite race against the world’s swiftest vessels.

The streamlined 65-foot yacht fell short of winning the coveted America’s Cup trophy in 1987. But 20 years later, the venerable boat is back in local waters, to the delight of local sailing aficionados.

“I never dreamed we’d get this boat but we did,” said Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh, head of the Manhattan Sailing Club, whose members bought the boat, which was being chartered out in Hawaii, from its owners this year. “It’s a sailor’s dream. It’s solid, it’s fast, it’s a pure racing machine.”

Fortenbaugh, 44, dreamed up the idea to bring the boat to the North Cove marina in anticipation of the club’s 20th anniversary this year.

Its headquarters, which sits just west of the World Trade Center, had resuscitated a membership decimated by 9/11, and wanted a flagship to demonstrate their excitement.

“Everybody loves it. Everybody wants to come on board,” said co-owner Linda Kulla, 47, of Gramercy.

The America II is a piece of history – built by the New York Yacht Club in 1986 in hopes of regaining its century-long America’s Cup winning streak cut short three years earlier by the Australians.

But it still sails like a hot rod. Featuring a 85-foot-tall mast, the boat has plenty more heft than a normal sailboat – meaning a faster ride.

On a recent sail, the ship handily outpaced other racing ships bobbing off the Battery Park shoreline.

“Just sitting here you can feel the extreme power of this boat,” said John LaGrassa, 45, as the boat sliced through the choppy waters. “We’re just moving away on them.”

The public can experience it for themselves starting this summer, when the America II starts accepting charter tours around New York Harbor. The 3-hour tours cost $5,000 and include a bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne, the America II sponsor.

As the only 12-meter-class boat docked in New York City, Fortenbaugh wanted to open up the boat to as many people as possible. The tours will also help maintain the boat’s pricey upkeep.

And although it’s only been back in the city for a short time, the boat is already attracting plenty of attention. “Strangers stop and stare,” Kulla said. “It’s great.”

[email protected]

More in News

2-year-old boy hit by stray shot on busy Bronx street

National News | WA mom charged after 4-year-old’s body found along highway

SUBSCRIBER ONLY

Crime and public safety | mayor adams’ brother stepped into dispute over sex harass allegations against timothy pearson.

World News | Israel admits to killing 2 Palestinians, burying them with bulldozer

12 Metre Yacht Development Foundation

Experience the thrill of America’s Cup Match Racing

Take an active part in supporting Long Island Sound’s historical connection to the America’s Cup

I2m Yacht Development Foundation [I2mYDF]  was conceived in Greenwich, Connecticut in 2006 on the Western end of Long Island Sound which has had such a significant historical contribution to the America’s Cup and the maritime history of the United States.   As we celebrate 10 years of operation and prepare to enter our second decade –we remain true to our Charitable Mission with exciting plans to “acquire, restore, and preserve historic America’s Cup Class l2m yachts and their match racing heritage.”

The foundation began with the acquisition, restoration and preservation of our first America’s Cup Class I2m yacht  America II / US42  (2007) whose syndicate campaigned in the 1987 America’s Cup in Perth, Australia. In (2010) we  restored and preserved  Lionheart /K18    which challenged for Great Britain in the 1980 America’s Cup in Newport, RI and in  (2014) we  then restored and preserved  Freedom / US30  – the last winner  of the 1980 America’s Cup in Newport.  Only with your continued help and support can we actively continue our foundations mission to secure and restore other historic America’s Cup Class yachts and to educate and preserve their match racing heritage for all enthuasists to enjoy.