1930 was the year of the J Class yacht, and Shamrock V was the first to be launched on April 14th of that year by owner Sir Thomas Lipton. The only J to be built from wood, she had mahogany planking over steel frames, with a hollow spruce mast and was the first British contender for the America's Cup to carry the Bermuda rig. She showed early promise on the British Regatta circuit winning 15 of 22 races and underwent continuous upgrading with changes to her hull shape, rudder, and modifications to the rig to create a more effective racing sail plan before departing to America in time for the 15th America's Cup.