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1876
Launched in May at Cobourg on Lake Ontario, Countess of Dufferin is named in honour of the new Governor General, the Marquis of Dufferin. As the Canadians are in a hurry, the yacht (with the hull not sanded) travels for 50 days, under sail and by oars, via St. Lawrence, Halifax, Long Island Sound and reaches New York on July 17, 1876.
The American press criticise the "poor" showing of the unfinished boat. The rig is too heavy and difficult to handle. The Canadian sails are badly cut and stretched on the spars. The crew of ten has to work hard to fit them.
The America's Cup
August 11 and 12, 1876, off New York.
Countess of Dufferin races against Madeleine in the best two out of three series.
The course alternates between inside and outside areas, as in 1871.
- August 11, first race, 32.6 miles, inside course: Madeleine beats Countess of Dufferin by 10 minutes and 59 seconds on corrected time.
- August 12, second race, 40 miles, outside course: Madeleine beats Countess of Dufferin by 27 minutes and 14 seconds on corrected time.
Madeleine beats Countess of Dufferin by two wins to nil.
After the Cup, the Countess of Dufferin returns to Lake Ontario after a marshall's sale in New York by Major Gifford. The schooner takes part in lake regattas. It impresses its contenders with its reaching (cross wind) speed and is reported to reach 14 knots on occasions.
1879
The Countess of Dufferin lays anchor in Burlington Bay, Ontario, for sale at $5,000 and charges 25 cents a head admission for sightseers. Captain Pine of Chicago, a schooner captain (later Commodore of the Chicago Yacht Club), buys it at a bargain price. The yacht competes on Lake Michigan, before being altered to a floating clubhouse.
1893
During the 1893 World Fair, Countess of Dufferin is towed outside the breakwater and scuttled.
Countess of Dufferin
1876
Centerboard schooner
Canada
Yacht club: Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Toronto, Canada
Unsuccessful challenger for the 1876 America's Cup
Owner: Syndicate headed by Major Charles Gifford, Royal Canadian YC Vice Commodore; John Bell, the Corbys, Messrs. Thos. Legett and Murray Geddes, Fred & Allan Lucas, Messrs. Boswell & Jones
Modeller: Captain Alexander Cuthbert
Builder: Captain Alexander Cuthbert, Cobourg, close to East Pier
Sailmaker: Wilson, New York, United States
Launched: May 1876
Skipper: Captain Alexander Cuthbert
Afterguard: Captain Joe Ellsworth (United States) acting as pilot, Major Charles Gifford, Wearman Gifford, Berly Jones, George Corvillo, Fred Lucas, C.T. Torrence, G.W. Ball, W.H. Barrett, Captain Samuel Greenwood, Captain J.B. Bretherton
Data
Construction
Wood: Northumberland County Oak
Dimensions
Length overall (LOA): 32.61m
Length waterline (LWL): 29.12m
Beam: 7.25 m
Draft: 1.95 m
Draft with centerboard: 5.48 m
Displacement: 138.2 tonnes / 49 tonnes
Sail area: 744m2
Rating: 9028.40 (Cubical contents) - 8499.17
Mast: 22.40m
Boom: 19.20m
Bowsprit: - reefed: 4.57 m - fitting out: 12.60m
Topmast: 10.30m
Foremast: 21.25m
Foretopmast: 9.85m
J.T./nc
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Year of building
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Launched
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5/1876 |
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Edition 3(1876)
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Crew
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Hull
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Wood |
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Mast
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Wood |
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L.O.A
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32.61 |
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L.W.L
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29.12 |
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Mast
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22.4 |
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Beam
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7.25 |
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Boom
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19.2 |
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Sail Area
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Displacament
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138.2 |
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Draft
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1.95 |
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Rating
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CC Rule |
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Ballast
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