The 1903

America's Cup The America's Cup is a sailing competition and the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy (known ...

was the 12th challenge for the Cup. It took place in the New York City harbor and consisted of a best of five series of races between '' Reliance'', the fourth of Nathaniel Herreshoff's defenders for the cup, entered by 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. ...

; and '' Shamrock III'', representing the

Royal Ulster Yacht Club The Royal Ulster Yacht Club is located in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, on the south shore of Belfast Lough. History The club was established in 1866 as the Ulster Yacht Club, on the impetus of Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, ...

and also the third of Sir Thomas Lipton's Cup challengers. ''Reliance'' won the first three races, defending the cup. It was the last race for the America's Cup that would take place under the Seawanhaka rule.

Reliance

''Reliance'' was designed by Nathaniel Herreshoff, designer of all of the early 20th century America's Cup defenders. She was designed to take full advantage of the fact that the Seawanhaka rule did not take weight into account, leading to a very light and therefore, somewhat unstable yacht. At long and tall with of sail the yacht was the largest

gaff-rigged Gaff rig is a sailing rig (configuration of sails, mast and stays) in which the sail is four-cornered, fore-and-aft rigged, controlled at its peak and, usually, its entire head by a spar (pole) called the ''gaff''. Because of the size and shap ...

cutter Cutter may refer to: Tools * Bolt cutter * Box cutter * Cigar cutter * Cookie cutter * Cutter (hydraulic rescue tool) * Glass cutter * Meat cutter * Milling cutter * Paper cutter * Pizza cutter * Side cutter People * Cutter (surname) * Cutt ...

ever built.

Race

''Reliance'' won all three races, finishing far enough ahead that ''Shamrock III'' was forced to retire before finishing the third race. The course for the race was laid out by Lewis Blix.

References

{{America'sCup America's Cup regattas