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1851


America   

First race around isle of wight



Architect George Steers
Builder W. H. Brown
Owner John Cox Stevens (Syndicat)
Club New York Yacht Club
Skipper Richard BROWN
Type Goelette with keel
Length HT 30,86 m
Draft 3,33 m
larger mast 24,69 m
Mât de misaine 24,23 m
Boom 17,07 m
Displacement 170 tons
Sail area 498 m²

The schooner *America* had come to Cowes to challenge the world's greatest maritime power in the round-the-Isle of Wight race. Her resounding victory gave birth to legend. Her fate was as dramatic as her victory: she served for many years in the US Navy before collapsing under the weight of a hangar roof in 1945

the race

On August 22, 1851, at 10:00 AM, America faced a fleet of 15 British ships. America crossed the starting line in last place and gradually worked her way up through the fleet. America passed inside the Nab Tower, took the lead, and held it to the finish. When Queen Victoria, who was watching the race, asked who was in second place, she was told, "There is no second place."