The ''Fleetwing'' was a 19th-century wooden
yacht
A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...
schooner
A schooner () is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than the mainmast. A common variant, the topsail schoon ...
, built in 1865 by
Joseph D. Van Deusen and owned by yachtsman George Archer Osgood. She was one of the fastest yachts in the
squadron. The ''Fleetwing'' was in the famous 1886 transatlantic ocean race 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. ...
. She came in 12th in an unsuccessful
America’s Cup
The America's Cup, informally known as the Auld Mug, is a trophy awarded in the sport of sailing. It is the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one fr ...
defense in 1870.
Construction and service
The ''Fleetwing'' was built in 1865 by
Joseph D. Van Deusen and owned by yachtsman George Archer Osgood brother of
Franklin Osgood
Franklin Osgood (December 24, 1828January 13, 1888) was a 19th-century businessman and yachtsman. He was one of the most experienced yachtsman having sailed for more than 23 years. He was owner and manager of the racing yachts Widgeon (pilot boa ...
. George was a son-in-law of Commodore
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 – January 4, 1877), nicknamed "the Commodore", was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. After working with his father's business, Vanderbilt worked his way into lead ...
.
She was 112 tons burden, keel boat, and 106 length on deck; 24-foot beam and 10-feet depth of hold.
In September 1865, the ''Fleetwing'' was in a race with
James G. Bennett's yacht
''Henrietta''. The course was from Sandy Hook around
Cape May Lightship and back. The ''Fleetwing'' won by 1 hour and 19 minutes.
In October 1865, ''Fleetwing'' was defeated by the ''Vesta'' over the same course.
In May 1866, ''Fleetwing'' underwent a complete overhaul to get ready for an ocean yacht race for a purse of $90,000. She got a new set of sails to prepare for the upcoming ocean regatta. She was one of the fastest yachts in the
squadron.
The great ocean yacht race
On Tuesday, December 11, 1866, in what was billed as the "Great Ocean Yacht Race", three wealthy American men, all members of the New York Yacht Club, took their yachts on a mid-winter transatlantic race across the Atlantic. The three yachts were the ''Vesta'' owned by
Pierre Lorillard, Jr., the ''Fleetwing'' owned by George Osgood and the ''Henrietta'' owned and sailed by the 21-year-old yachtsman James Gordon Bennett Jr. Each yachtsman put up $30,000 in the winner-take-all wager. They started from the
Sandy Hook Light __NOTOC__
The Sandy Hook Lighthouse, located about one and a half statute miles (2.4 km) inland from the tip of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, is the oldest working lighthouse in the United States. It was designed and built on June 11, 1764 by Isa ...
, during high
westerly winds and raced to
The Needles
The Needles is a row of three stacks of chalk that rise about out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight in the English Channel, United Kingdom, close to Alum Bay and Scratchell's Bay, and part of Totland, the westernmo ...
, the furthest westerly point of the
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...
in the
English Channel
The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" (Cotentinais) or ( Jèrriais), (Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kana ...
, before reaching the
seaport Cowes
Cowes () is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina, facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east bank. The two towns are linked by the Cowes Floa ...
on the Isle of Wight. On December 26th, Bennett's ''Henrietta'' won with a time of 13 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes, with Captain
Samuel S. Samuels as the skipper. The ''Fleetwing'' came in second and ''Vesta'' came in third, both boats took over 14 days to reach Cowes. The Fleetwing, with Captain Thomas in command, had eight of her twenty-two crew washed overboard in a westerly gale on December 20th. Six of them drowned.
1870 America's cup
On August 8, 1870, the international
1870 America's Cup
The 1870 America's Cup was the first America's Cup to be hosted in the United States, and the first "America's Cup" due to the trophy being renamed from the 100 Guineas Cup of 1851. It was the first competition after the founding of the "America ...
(also called the Queen's Cup) was the first America's Cup to be hosted in the United States at
New York Harbor
New York Harbor is at the mouth of the Hudson River where it empties into New York Bay near the East River tidal estuary, and then into the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of the United States. It is one of the largest natural harbors in t ...
. George A. Osgood with his American schooner ''Fleetwing'' and his brother
Franklin Osgood
Franklin Osgood (December 24, 1828January 13, 1888) was a 19th-century businessman and yachtsman. He was one of the most experienced yachtsman having sailed for more than 23 years. He was owner and manager of the racing yachts Widgeon (pilot boa ...
's with his yacht
''Magic,'' were in the competition. The course started from the
Staten Island
Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull an ...
N.Y.Y.C anchorage down through the
Narrows
A narrows or narrow (used interchangeably but usually in the plural form), is a restricted land or water passage. Most commonly a narrows is a strait, though it can also be a water gap.
A narrows may form where a stream passes through a tilted ...
to the S.W. Split
buoy
A buoy () is a floating device that can have many purposes. It can be anchored (stationary) or allowed to drift with ocean currents.
Types
Navigational buoys
* Race course marker buoys are used for buoy racing, the most prevalent form of yac ...
, across to the
Sandy Hook lightship and return to Staten Island. The race was won by the Franklin Osgood's ''Magic'' with the ''Fleetwing'' finishing in 12th place. Franklin Osgood's yacht ''Magic'' beat 16 competitors from 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. ...
, including
James Lloyd Ashbury
James Lloyd Ashbury (1834 – 3 September 1895) was a British yachtsman and Conservative Party politician.
Early life
The son of John Ashbury, founder of the Ashbury Railway Carriage and Iron Company Ltd of Manchester, James trained as an engine ...
's English yacht
''Cambria'' that sailed to New York on behalf of the
Royal Thames Yacht Club
The Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC) is the oldest continuously operating yacht club in the world, and the oldest yacht club in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are located at 60 Knightsbridge, London, England, overlooking Hyde Park. The club ...
and the yachts
''Dauntless,'' ''Idler,'' ''Fleetwing,''
''Phantom,'' ''America'' and others.
In 1884, The schooner yacht ''Fleetwing'' was owned by Robert Elliot, who rebuilt and lengthened her at
Port Jefferson, New York
Port Jefferson (informally known as "Port Jeff") is an incorporated village in the town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. Officially known as the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson, the population ...
. She was lengthened to 117 feet long.
In 1903, the ''Fleetwing'' was owned by E. O. Mapes, of
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
who sailed her to the West Indies. They left the yacht at
Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos (), capital of Cienfuegos Province, is a city on the southern coast of Cuba. It is located about from Havana and has a population of 150,000. Since the late 1960s, Cienfuegos has become one of Cuba's main industrial centers, especial ...
,
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
.
End of service
In 1905, the ''Fleetwing'' adventures ended when she was laid up in
Erie Basin in Brooklyn. She was then bought by the
American Baptist Home Mission Society
The American Baptist Home Mission Society is a Christian missionary society. Its main predecessor the Home Mission Society was established in New York City in 1832 to operate in the American frontier, with the stated mission "to preach the Gos ...
and fitted as a gospel ship for religious work among the sailors.
References
External links
America's CupTHE RACE OF THE FIRST CHALLENGE
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fleetwing
Schooners of the United States
Individual sailing vessels
Ships built in New York City
Yachts of New York Yacht Club members
1865 ships
America's Cup challengers
America's Cup regattas
1870 in American sports
1870 in sailing