“Madeleineleads the squadron into port!” In 1873, Jacob B. Voorhis’ centerboard schooner impressed many with its performances against the New York Yacht Club fleet. Among other exploits, this was the year when Madeleine won the two most desired trophies reserved for schooners, the Bennett and the Douglas Cups. Madeleine’s domination was such that during the following season, Voorhis gave up racing his boat because nobody wanted to sail against him. He was forced to follow the summer NYYC Annual Cruise, but even using just his working sails, it was necessary to slow down so as not to pass the others.
In 1875, Madeleine returned to the race circuit and Voorhis met with more success. In the autumn, he won the Cap May Cup against Mohawk - the schooner which became infamous for capsizing at anchor a short while later - Rambler, Resolute, Idler, Dreadnaught and Eva. In a match at the end of the racing season in New York, Madeleine again defeated Mohawk.
When the NYYC accepted a challenge for the America’s Cup from the Canadian Major Gifford and his Countess of Dufferin, in early 1876, the NYYC Committee of the Cup made a proposal to the owners of the five most successful schooners in its fleet for a competition to choose the defender, namely: Palmer, Columbia, Tidal Wave, Madeleine and Idler. Only the last two boats met for a match and Madeleine, now owned John S. Dickerson, won the honour of defending the Cup.
Originally, its owner Jacob B. Voorhis, a talented New Yorker modeler, had conceived Madeleine as a 70-ton sloop. David Kirby in his Rye shipyard in New York, built the boat. At the beginning of 1870, Madeleine was slightly altered again and rigged as a schooner by Kirby. On August 8th of the same year the first America’s Cup challenge in New York took place. James Ashbury's English challenger, Cambria, had to sail against the best of the NYYC fleet, including Madeleine.Cambria finished 8th on elapsed time, far behind the winner Magic, but ranked four places ahead of Madeleine.
Voorhis decided to alter his schooner again. In 1871, it was John E. Smith who tackled the work the first time in his shipyard in Nyack, New York. He went to work two more times, in 1873 and 1875. Thus, the aft part of the hull was lengthened by 5.2 meters and the freeboard was increased by 35 centimeters. Each alteration contributed to Madeleine's invincibility, which was on display with John S. Dickerson at the beginning of 1876.
Some months later, the American schooner raced the Canadian challenger, Countess of Dufferin. Before the race, the nine year old Madeleine, freshly sanded and varnished, was sparkling more than the new Canadian schooner. On August 11th, 1876, William skippered the defender to victory and beat Countess, skippered by Alexander Cuthbert, by 9:58 on elapsed time, and 10:59 on corrected time. The next day, Madeleine outsailed the challenger to the finish by 27:14 on corrected time. The schooner America had also been authorised to start this second race, albeit a few minutes behind the competitors so as not to bother them. America would also finish ahead of Countess of Dufferin, outstripping it by 19:09.
Madeleine dominated this third America's Cup defense. It briefly continued its ‘yachting’ career, before retiring from racing at the beginning of the 20th century. The schooner was registered in Tampa, Florida. The boat was fitted for trade and then was eventually put to use as a supply craft to sponge fishermen under the ownership of Levin Denton Vinson. In 1907, Madeleine was neglected in a west coast bay of Florida, near the mouth of Hillsborough River. Over time it became a wreck, sunk in the mud and after some years disappeared from the landscape…
J.T./pr
MADELEINE
1876
U.S.A.
Yacht Club: New York Yacht Club, New York, USA. Commodore: George L. Kingsland, & Vice Commodore: S. Nicholson Kane.
Madeleine was selected as the America’s Cup defender after its victorious match in the trials against the schooner Idler.
Owner (1876): John S. Dikerson
Centerboard schooner yacht
Modeller: John B. Voorhis (its original and first owner until 1876)
Builder: David Kirby, Rye, New York.
Launched on March 1868. Rigged as a 70-ton sloop.
Hull altered by David Kirby in his yard at Rye and rigged as a schooner (1870)
Hull altered by John E. Smith in 1871, then again in 1873 and 1875. Aft part of the hull lengthened by 5.20 metres. Freeboard increased by 35 centimetres.
Skipper (1876): Captain Josephus Williams assisted by Captain David Snediker.
Data:
Hull material: wood.
Shifting ballast: lead pig.
Centreboard: wood.
Dimensions:
L.O.A.: 32.30 m
L.W.L.: 28.96 m
Beam: 7.35 m
Draft: 2.05 m – with centerboard: 5.02 m
Sail area: 783.72 m2
Rating: 8499.17
Mast: 22.40 m
Boom: 18.70 m
Bowsprit: - reefed: 5.80 m – fitted: 13.25 m
Topmast: 10.57 m
Foremast: 22.10 m
Foretopmast: 11.31 m
Displacement: 151.5 T.
Tonnage: 85.25 (Customs T)
Observations:
Madeleinesailed as a contender in the first 1870 America’s Cup (12th elapsed time, 13th corrected time).
Victorious defender of the third America’s Cup; a winner in both races against the Canadian challenger, Countess of Dufferin.
Stayed in New York as a yacht until the end of the 19th century.
At the beginning of the 1900’s, Madeleine was moved to Tampa, Florida and used as a trade and supply craft to sponge fishermen. Owned by Levin Denton Vinson.
Left in 1907 near the mouth of Hillsborough River, West Coast of Florida, Madeleine soon became a wreck before disappearing some years later.
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