J-BOATS COMPETING OFF MARBLEHEAD
The huge, graceful J-boats were built for competition at the highest level (the America’s Cup races) during the 1920s and ’30s. With bronze hulls over 100 feet in length and sloop rig spreading as much as 7500 sf of sail, they utilized the latest in aircraft and marine technology in their composition, carried crews as large as 40, and could only be financed by syndicates of millionaire yachtsmen such as Harold Vanderbilt and Sir Thomas Lipton. Seen here are the only two remaining J-boats, newly restored: on the left, SHAMROCK VI, the British challenger in 1934; on the right, ENDEAVOUR, which sailed in the 1937 Cup races. Boats were shot while racing off Marblehead Neck in 1990, visiting the Eastern Yacht Club for a big Fourth of July "do."
Photo copyright © 1990 by Larry Neilson.
