''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

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 {{boat-stub