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1895
Defender is Nathanael Greene Herreshoff's second victorious defender. The boat is designed in the utmost secrecy and her construction shrouded in mystery. No one was allowed to enter the yard, especially not press or photographers.
In building Defender, the Herreshoff brothers' special innovation is the use of Aluminum. But, just after the boat is launched, is becomes evident that is suffers from a little known phenomenon: corrosion due to electrolysis. This type of construction allowed a weight saving of 17 tonnes over classical building methods.
During the defence selection trials, Defender sails against Vigilant, Volunteer and Jubilee. During the final, only Vigilant (1893) skippered Charlie Barr races against Defender. On August 10 Vigilant notches up a win. Defender does not finish due to rig problems. Defender strikes back on August 29 and 30 with two easy wins against Vigilant and is selected to defend the America's Cup against the British yacht Valkyrie III.
America's Cup
September 7 to 12, 1895, off New York
Defender races against Valkyrie III in the best of five series
Three different courses.
The first one: 15 miles to windward off Scotland Lightship and return.
The second one: equilateral triangle, 30 nautical miles
The third one: 15 miles to leeward and return from Sandy Hook Lightship.
Results
Defender beats Valkyrie III by three wins to nil
September 7, first race, 30 nautical mile windward-leeward course: Defender beats Valkyrie III by 8 minutes and 49 seconds on corrected time.
September 10, second race, 30 nautical mile triangular course: Defender is beaten by Valkyrie III by 47 seconds, but Valkyrie III is disqualified by the race committee after the two yachts clash on the start line. Defender is awarded the win.
September 12, third race, 40 nautical mile windward-leeward course: Defender beat Valkyrie III, although Valkyrie III crosses the start line, but immediately retires.
Following the Cup, Defender is towed to New Rochelle and stays four years without sailing.
1899
J. Pierpont Morgan and W. Buttler Duncan rebuild Defender as a trial horse for the 1899 America's Cup defence candidate, Columbia.
The yacht is towed to Herreshoff's Bristol yard for restoration to enable it to race in the selection trials for the 1899 defence.
Following the selection trials, Defender returns to its mooring.
1901
Defender is broken up.
J.T.
Defender
1895
United States
Sloop
Yacht club: New York Yacht Club, New York, United States
Victorious defender of the 1895 America's Cup
Owners: William K. Vanderbilt, Edwin D. Morgan and C. Oliver Iselin.
Rating: 100.36
Designer: Nathanael Greene Herreshoff
Builder: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, Rhode Island, United States
Sailmakers: Herreshoff (Bristol) and MM. Wilson & Silsby (Boston)
Year of building: 1895
Launched: June 29, 1895
Skipper: Henry C. Haff
Afterguard: Herbert C. Leeds, Newberry Thorne, Woodbury Kane, W. Butler Duncan, Jr., Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, C. Oliver Iselin and Nathanael Greene Herreshoff.
Data
Construction
Construction: all metal - Manganese bronze, Steel and Aluminum
Frames and sternpost: Steel
Keel and bottom plates: Manganese bronze
Topside plating, deck, beams and rails: Aluminum
Ballast: Lead
Dimensions
Length overall (LOA): 37.50 m
Length waterline (LWL): 27.17 m
Beam: 7.03 m
Draft: 5.81 m
Sail area: 1134.30 m2
Displacement: 151.5 tonnes
Ballast: 85 tonnes
Tonnage: 100 tonnes
Mast height: 28 m
Boom: 31.90 m
Bowsprit: 9.29 m
Topmast: 17.50 m
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Year of building
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1895 |
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Launched
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29/5/1895 |
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Edition 9(1895)
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Crew
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Hull
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Steel |
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Mast
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Steel |
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L.O.A
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37.5 |
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L.W.L
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27.17 |
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Mast
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28 |
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Beam
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7.03 |
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Boom
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31.9 |
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Sail Area
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Displacament
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151.5 |
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Draft
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5.81 |
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Rating
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Ballast
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85 |
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