Weetamoe

''Weetamoe'' was a 1930 yacht of the J Class built as a contender for the New York Yacht Club's defence of the 1930 America's Cup. She was ordered by a syndicate headed by Junius Morgan, designed by Clinton Hoadley Crane, and built by Herreshoff Manufacturing Company.The National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum (n.d.) ''Weetamoe'' was unsuccessful in her bid to become the Cup defender, an honor that went to '' Enterprise''. She continued to sail for a few years afterwards, before being scrapped in 1937.

Design and development

When the New York Yacht Club accepted Sir Thomas Lipton's challenge for the America's cup, they decided to form two syndicates to build one yacht each for the defense of the cup, and also to welcome other syndicates who might want to offer a defender. The two NYYC syndicates were to be led by Vice-Commodore Winthrop Aldrich and Rear-Commodore Junius Morgan.

Morgan's syndicate comprised:Dear 2004, p.49
* George T. Bowdoin
* Arthur Curtiss James
* Gerard Lambert
* J. P. Morgan
* Junius Morgan
* George Nichols
* Cornelius Vanderbilt
* Henry Walters

Her construction was of steel frames and deck beams, with wooden decks and a hull was built from very expensive Tobin bronze.

She was launched on May 10, 1930.

Support vessels

The syndicate also obtained several support craft for ''Weetamoe''. These included:
* a steamer, ''Emblane''
* two powerboats, ''Magistrate'' and ''Momo''

Crew

Under the Racing Rules, yachts were allowed a total crew of 31, including any afterguard. The afterguard comprised:
* A. H. Eustis
* Robert N. Bavier
* Clinton Crane (designer)
* George Nichols (skipper)
* John Parkinson

The syndicate engaged J. Christiensen as their sailing master, and a professional crew of Scandinavian origin.

The Long Island Sound series

On June 9, the contenders, together with the J-class yachts ''Resolute'' and ''Vanitie'', met at Glen Cove for a series of races planned in Long Island Sound by the local clubs.Vanderbilt 1931, p.89

Of the series, ''Weetamoe'' won three out of four races, with the other going to ''Enterprise''. ''Yankee'' arrived too late to compete in any but the fourth and last race.

The Eastern Yacht Club races

The following week, the J-class boats traveled to Newport for three races organized by the Eastern Yacht Club.Vanderbilt 1931, p.102

''Enterprise won all three of these races. ''Weetamoe'' recorded the fastest time in the first race, but withdrew after fouling ''Enterprise''.

As winner of the races, ''Enterprise'' was awarded the Commodore Charles P. Curtiss cup, and a second prize was awarded to ''Yankee''.Vanderbilt 1931, p.108

Observation

During the first two weeks of July 1930, the America's Cup Committee staged a series of observation races to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the four contenders to defend the cup. Vanderbilt 1931, p.113 The races were conducted by starting the yachts in pairs, with the second pair starting fifteen minutes after the first. The yachts to race in each pair were determined by lot.

The end results of the observations were that ''Enterprise'', ''Weetamoe'', and ''Yankee'' all finished roughly the same, points-wise (14, 13, and 13 respectively), while ''Whirlwind'' had won only a single race and finished with only 8 points.Vanderbilt 1931, p.135 ''Weetamoe'' won every race that she had finished.

''Enterprise'' and ''Weetamoe'' each scored a technical victory over the other when their competitor could not finish a race. Likewise, ''Yankee'' scored a technical victory over ''Whirlwind''.Vanderbilt 1931, p.130

New York Yacht Club annual cruise

From August 2–9, the 1930 annual cruise of the New York Yacht Club offered a final opportunity for the contenders for the defense of the America's Cup to compete with each other prior to the selection trials. The cruise consisted of several port-to=-port legs, interspersed with races over set courses.Vanderbilt 1931, pp.142–59

''Enterprise'' and ''Weetamoe'' each won three races, and ''Yankee'' won one. As part of this cruise, ''Enterprise'' won the Astor CupVanderbilt 1931, p.155 and ''Weetamoe'' won the City of Newport Cup.

Trials

Formal trials between the four contenders commenced on August 20. The contenders were to race in pairs, the second division starting 15 minutes after the first division, as in the observation races.Vanderbilt 1931, 169

Due to poor winds, only two trial races were held, both won by ''Enterprise'' against ''Weetamoe''. ''Whirlwind'' was disabled in one of her races against ''Yankee''.Vanderbilt 1931, 172

On the evening of August 27, the America's Cup Committee informed the afterguard of ''Enterprise'' that their yacht had been selected to defend the cup.

Fate

In 1934, ''Weetamoe'' was substantially modified, being given new hull contours and a bulb keel. These modifications were not successful and were eventually reversed.

''Weetamoe'' was scrapped in 1937.

Bibliography

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References

{{J-class yachts

J-class yachts
1930s sailing yachts
Sailing yachts built in the United States