“Columbiafulfils my expectations. The Defender is faster than when she defeatedthe Valkyrie III, (in 1895) and theColumbiais faster than theDefender. In fact, she is faster than we expected,“ declared a delighted Charles Oliver Iselin, the man in charge of the 1899 Cup defence.
Part One: 1899 - Columbia wins with ease over Shamrock
Charles Iselin & Hope Iselin G.
Iselin had to be happy as it was against the opinion of some local yachtsmen, that he had appointed the recently American naturalised ex-Scotsman Charles Barr as skipper of Columbia. Iselin kept in mind the aggressive and effective talent that Barr displayed when helming Vigilent, the 1893 defender. Barr faced the defence candidate Defender, skippered by Henry "Hank" C. Haff, and had had to display all his talent to be effective.
In 1899, the Americans were delighted by the first challenge from Sir Thomas Lipton, with his Shamrock I – a challenge credited with restoring the lustre of the Cup after the terrible controversy which followed the 1895 America’s Cup when Lord Dunraven accused the New Yorkers of poor sportsmanship and indeed cheating. Although happy to have an creditable challenger, the NYYC did not diminish the strength with which the approached the defence.
Only a single syndicate was formed but William K. Vanderbilt and J. Pierpont Morgan decided to refit the "old” Defender – so much so that it was practically a new boat. It was given to Captain Uriah Rhodes assisted by a Scandinavian crew. The selection trials for the 1899 defence began in September. Led by Barr and assisted by Captain "Lem” Miller as mate and with a crew formed of American fishermen from Deer Isle, Columbia quickly showed its superiority over Defender, although it had broken its mast on August 2nd during a testing session off Point Judith.
On September 2nd, Columbia defeated Defender by 6 minutes and 49 seconds on a 30 mile upwind-downwind course sailed in a 12-knot wind. On September 4th, on a triangular course of the same length, raced in 15 knots, the result again favoured Columbia, this time by 10 minutes and 7 seconds. The next day, in a steadier breeze, on a 20 mile run, the same scenario was played out: Columbia outstripped Defender by 3 minutes and 22 seconds and was officially selected by the NYYC as the official defender, one week before the America’s Cup.
Columbia
For the first time since 1870, the weather conditions tested the mettle of the crews of Shamrock and Columbia: eight race postponements took place due to lack of wind on the or fog. On October 8th, a start was given, but the time limit was reached and the race was cancelled … The Americans eventually won the first race, on October 16th, by 10 minutes and 8 seconds. During the second race, sailed the next day, Shamrock, skippered by Archie Hogarth, had to give up after breaking its topmast. Lipton’s challenger was again beaten (in 20 knots of wind) on October 20th by 6 minutes 34 seconds. The America’s Cup stayed with the NYYC.
Columbia had just registered its name in the legend of the America’s Cup. The designer of the defender, Nathanael Greene Herreshoff savoured his third victory after earlier finding success with Vigilant in 1893 and Defender in 1895 and was universally acclaimed.
But many deserved recognition for the success, including Charlie Barr, skipper of Columbia. It was true that in the eyes of some, Barr had the defect of having been born in Scotland and of having attained his American nationality all too recently. But two years later, again at the helm of Columbia, Barr would silence his critics.
Jacques Taglang.
COLUMBIA 10th America’s Cup challenge - Victorious defender of the 1899 America’s Cup - winner over the Irish challenger Shamrock I owned by Sir Thomas Lipton. 1899 USA
Yacht Club: New York Yacht Club, New York, USA Victorious defender of the eleventh 1899 America’s Cup Challenger, winner over Shamrock I
Owners: J. Pierpont Morgan & Edwin D. Morgan.
Fin keel sloop Length and sail area rule Rating: 102.135
Designer: Nathanael Greene Herreshoff
Builder: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA Sailmaker: Herreshoff (Bristol)
Year of construction: Winter 1898 - 1899 Launched: June 10th, 1899
Skipper: Charlie Barr Captain: « Lem ” Miller Afterguard: Newberry Thorne, Woodbury Kane, Herbert C. Leeds, W. Buttler Duncan Jr., Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin & C. Oliver Iselin.
Data:
Construction –
Construction: All metal Frames: Nickel steel Hull: Tobin bronze Ballast: Lead Mast: Steel then Oregon pine
Dimensions –
L.O.A.: 40.15 m L.W.L.: 27,25 m Beam: 7.39 m Draft: 5.97 m Displacement: 148.7 tons Ballast: 90 tons Tonnage: 102 tons Sail area: 1182 m2 Mast: 30.10 m Boom: 32.30 m Bowsprit: 8.15 m Topmast: 18.89 m
Observations –
1901 Columbiawas the third defender modelled and built by Herreshoff. J. Pierpont Morgan and W. Buttler Duncan rebuilt Defender in order that it could be used as a trial horse for the new 1899 America’s Cup defence candidate, Columbia. The latter easily won the selection trials over Defender.
America’s Cup races: sailed from October 16 to 20, 1899, New York Best three out of five races. Columbia vs. Shamrock I
Three different courses: the first one, 15 miles to leeward and return from Sandy Hook Lightship; the second one, equilateral triangle, 30 miles; the third one, 20 miles to leeward and return from Sandy Hook Lightship.
Races: three sailed.
Results:
Columbia beat Shamrock I by three wins to nil.
- October 16, 1st race, 30 miles, Windward-Leeward Course: Columbia beat Shamrock I by 10 minutes 08 sec in corrected time. - October 17, 2nd race, 30 miles, Triangular Course: Columbia beat Shamrock I. Shamrock I withdrew. - October 20, 3rd race, 40 miles, Windward-Leeward Course: Columbia beat Shamrock I by 06 minutes 34 sec in corrected time.
Columbia sailed back to Bristol to be dry-docked, and would later become one of the true legends of the America’s Cup…
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