''Columbia'' (US-16) was the successful defender of the
1958 America's Cup for the
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. ...
, besting the British challenger
''Sceptre''.
Career
''Columbia'' was designed by
Olin Stephens
Olin James Stephens II (April 13, 1908 – September 13, 2008) was an American yacht designer. Stephens was born in New York City, but spent his summers with his brother Rod, learning to sail on the New England coast. He also attended the Massa ...
and built by
Nevins. Built to compete for the right to defend the '58 America's Cup, she was owned by a syndicate headed by
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. ...
members
Henry Sears
Henry Sears (1913 – March 1982) was an American commander and a commodore of the New York Yacht Club who competed in the America's Cup and discovered multiple species of marine fish.
Early life
Sears began sailing at the age of eight. As a ...
, Gerard B. Lambert,
Briggs Cunningham
Briggs Swift Cunningham II (January 19, 1907 – July 2, 2003) was an American entrepreneur and sportsman. He is best known for skippering the yacht ''Columbia'' to victory in the 1958 America's Cup race, and for his efforts as a driver, team o ...
,
Vincent Astor
William Vincent Astor (November 15, 1891 – February 3, 1959) was an American businessman, philanthropist, and member of the prominent Astor family.
Early life
Called Vincent, he was born in New York City on November 15, 1891. Astor was the el ...
,
James A. Farrell
James Augustine Farrell Sr. (February 15, 1863 – March 28, 1943) was president of US Steel from 1911 to 1932. A major business figure of his era, Farrell expanded US Steel by a factor of five during his presidency, turning it into America's f ...
, A. Howard Fuller, and
William T. Moore.
''Columbia'' was helmed by Cunningham, the inventor of the
cunningham downhaul, with syndicate head Sears as navigator. After defeating
''Sceptre'' in the Cup challenge, she went on to a long career competing in the Defender trials for the
1962
Events January
* January 1 – Western Samoa becomes independent from New Zealand.
* January 3 – Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro for preaching communism.
* January 8 – Harmelen train disaster: 93 die in the wor ...
,
1964
Events January
* January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved.
* January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarc ...
, and
1967 America's Cup competitions.
References
External links
Yachts of New York Yacht Club members
America's Cup defenders
Individual sailing vessels
Sailboat type designs by Olin Stephens
1950s sailing yachts
Sailing yachts built in the United States
12-metre class yachts
Ships built in City Island, Bronx
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