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For the first time since the second America's Cup match in 1871, a Cup challenger is launched more than one year prior to the races.
Its owner, T.O.M. Sopwith, thought he was better prepared, with the exceptional Endeavour I (1934) serving as trial horse. His first J Class had, in fact, almost won the 1934 America's Cup against Rainbow.
1936
The building of Endeavour II gets underway on February 1 with the 90-tonne lead ballast-keel cast in its mould. The keel and the frames are fitted up; shell plating is flush-jointed over the entire hull rather than clincher-built and is riveted onto the frames and strapping.
The steel centerboard is passed through a shaft in the lead ballast-keel. When lowered, it increases the draft by about seven feet (2.13m).
The deck plan is relatively open and made of Canadian Pine.
The steel mast is made up of 16 longitudinal, arc-welded bands and weighs less than three tones when complete with rigging. The boom is of the 'Park Avenue' type (triangular section).
In front of the wheels and to starboard of the cockpit is a wind-speed indicator and to port a wind direction indicator. Two water-speed indicators complete the instrumentation.
Tension meters placed in front of the winches measure the settings of the runners.
The building is completed on June 8 and Endeavour II is launched.
Endeavour II takes part in her first race on June 24 off Falmouth, Cornwall and contests the 1936 yachting season in Great Britain.
On July 2 Endeavour II is dismasted off Plymouth, Devon. Velsheda is dismasted too. Endeavour II is dismasted for a second time on August 4 at the start of Cowes Week.
1937
Endeavour I and Endeavour II cross the Atlantic Ocean to Newport, reaching the United States at the end of May. During their sailing trials, both yachts are linked by radio.
1937 America's Cup
July 31, first race: Endeavour II is beaten by Ranger by 17 minutes and five seconds over a 30-nautical mile windward-leeward course.
August 2, second race: Endeavour II is beaten by Ranger by 18 minutes and 32 seconds over a 30-nautical mile triangular course.
August 4, third race: Endeavour II is beaten by Ranger by four minutes and 27 seconds over a windward-leeward course.
August 5, fourth race: Endeavour II is beaten by Ranger by three minutes and 26 seconds over a triangular course.
1937
During the crossing home, Captain George Williams dies aboard from a ruptured ulcer.
1938
Endeavour II is abandoned on the Hamble River and sold after the Second World War for scrap.
1968
The Endeavour II wreck is broken up.
Endeavour II
1936
Sail number: J K 6
J Class
Great Britain
Yacht Club: Royal Yacht Squadron
Unsuccessful challenger for the 1937 America's Cup
Owner: Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith
Designer: Charles E. Nicholson.
Engineer: Frank Murdoch
Builder: Camper & Nicholsons, Gosport, England
Sailmaker: Ratsey, Cowes (Isle of Wight) and New York (USA), as well as Prescott Wilson, New York (USA)
Launched: June 8, 1936.
Skipper: T.O.M. Sopwith
Captain: George Williams
Afterguard, Phyllis Sopwith, Sir Ralph Gore (relief helmsman), Frank Murdoch, Jim Scarlett (navigator), Charles E. Nicholson (for the two last races).
Data
Construction
Hull: Steel.
Ballast keel: Lead
Frames: Steel
Planking: High-tensile Steel
Deck: Pine
Mast: Steel.
Boom: Wood
Spinnaker boom: Wood
Dimensions
Taken off the official certificate of measurement
Length overall (LOA): 41.40 m
Length waterline (LWL) 36.44 m
Allowed Q.B.L. (Quarter Beam Length): 82.72m
Q.B.L.: 82.80m
Excess Q.B.L.
Penalty: 0.04. L.W.L. + Q.B.L. Penalty = L: 86.80. Displacement (D): 5690.
Limit of 3√D: 17.852. 3√D for formula: 17.852
0.18 (L √S.A. / 3√D) + Measurement: 76.01 L.W.L. (see rating)
Penalty: none.
Draft: 15.00'. 4.57 m.
Draft Penalty: none
Freeboard Penalty - Limit: 5.54 - Actual: 5.58
Rating: Sloop 76.00.
Length of spinnaker boom: 15.63 m
Mast height: 46.51 m
Mainsail area: 446.24 m2
Foresail triangle: 254.50 m2
Total sail area: 700.74 m2
√S.A.: 86.85
Other dimensions
Taken off the official certificate of measurement
Beam: 6.55m
Boom: 20.60m
Centerboard: 2.13 m
Displacement: 162.6 tonnes
Wetted surface area: 187.3 m2
J.T./nc
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Year of building
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1936 |
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Launched
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8/6/1936 |
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Edition 16(1937)
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Crew
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Hull
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Steel |
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Mast
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Steel |
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L.O.A
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41.4 |
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L.W.L
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36.44 |
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Mast
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46.51 |
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Beam
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6.55 |
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Boom
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20.6 |
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Sail Area
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Displacament
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162.6 |
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Draft
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1.95 |
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Rating
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CC Rule |
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Ballast
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