''Intrepid'' is a

12-metre class The 12 Metre class is a rating class for racing sailboats that are designed to the International rule. It enables fair competition between boats that rate in the class whilst retaining the freedom to experiment with the details of their designs. ...

racing

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 ...

which won the America's Cup in 1967 and again in 1970.

Design

''Intrepid'' 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 was built of double-planked mahogany on

white oak The genus ''Quercus'' contains about 500 species, some of which are listed here. The genus, as is the case with many large genera, is divided into subgenera and sections. Traditionally, the genus ''Quercus'' was divided into the two subgenera ''C ...

frames. She featured important innovations both above and below the waterline. The

rudder A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, aircraft, or other vehicle that moves through a fluid medium (generally air or water). On an aircraft the rudder is used primarily to counter adve ...

was separated from the

keel The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in the construction of a ship, in Br ...

and a trim tab was added. This new general underbody type, with relatively minor refinements, was used on every subsequent Cup boat until the 12-metre '' Australia II''s winged keel of 1983. Above decks, ''Intrepid'' featured a very low boom, made possible by locating the winches below decks. The low boom caused an "end-plate effect", which allows a smaller amount of air to circulate around the boom and making the lower part of mainsail more efficient. The success of Intrepid was also the cause of some completely new technical features such as separate keel and a rudder to become popular in many production yachts such as

Swan 36 Swan 36 is a fin keeled, fiberglass constructed masthead sloop first manufactured by Nautor's Swan in 1967. The first Swan sailing yacht ever produced by the firm, it was designed to serve recreationally but also compete in the One Ton Cup. ...

America's Cup

In 1967 ''Intrepid'' was skippered by Emil "Bus" Mosbacher, and defeated Australian challenger '' Dame Pattie''. Redesigned in 1970 by Britton Chance, Jr. and skippered by Bill Ficker that year, she defeated another Australian challenger, '' Gretel II''. Intrepid remained competitive even against aluminum 12-metre yachts. Redesigned again, this time by her original designer Olin Stephens, ''Intrepid'' was back again for a third time in 1974, skippered by Gerry Driscoll. ''Intrepid'' came within one race of becoming the only three-time America's Cup defender in history, but lost the final race of the defender trials to '' Courageous'', which would go on to win the Cup that year with Ted Hood at the helm. Ted Hood sold ''Courageous'' to

Ted Turner Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III (born November 19, 1938) is an American entrepreneur, television producer, media proprietor, and philanthropist. He founded the Cable News Network (CNN), the first 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he fo ...

who went on to win the

1977 America's Cup The 1977 America's Cup was held in September 1977 at Newport, Rhode Island. The US defender, '' Courageous'', skippered by Ted Turner, defeated the Australian challenger, ''Australia'', skippered by Noel Robins, in a four-race sweep. ''Courageous ...

with her.

Restoration

''Intrepid'' underwent a two-year structural restoration, the bustle area was reframed, the bottom replanked for several feet up from the keel, and the deck and deck beams were replaced. Today ''Intrepid'' is available for charter out of

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is an American seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and northeast of New Yor ...

along with fellow America's Cup winner '' Freedom'' and challenger boat '' Weatherly''.

References

External links

Design Firm: Sparkman & Stephens

Current owners and charters
{{American 12-metre class yachts America's Cup defenders Individual sailing vessels 12-metre class yachts Yachts of New York Yacht Club members Sailboat type designs by Olin Stephens Sailboat type designs by Sparkman and Stephens 1960s sailing yachts Sailing yachts built in the United States 1970 America's Cup 1967 America's Cup