Yves GARY Hits: 8947
Category: ENDEAVOUR
The most beautiful J Class ever built.In 1934, Sopwith challenged with Endeavour. She was Charles Nicholson’s third J-Class design and he said of her: “She will have quite a normal hull... because I have thought it right to suppress possible experimental form, which would be most interesting to try out, but which I have to leave to American designers.”
He did, however, produce the most beautiful J-Class and her rig was innovative. Sopwith experimented with new running backstay strain gauges, which controlled the trim of the mast and used electronic windspeed and direction indicators. It has since been suggested that part of the reason for her failure in the Cup was due to all the gadgets on board.
Originally, Endeavour had a "North Circular" bending boom, later a "Park Avenue" boom. She pioneered the development of the Quadrilateral genoa, a two clewed headsail offering immense sail area and power, and still used on J Class yachts racing today. She also had a larger and better designed spinnaker but Sopwith was let down by poor crewing. Just prior to departure for the USA, his professional crew went on strike for more money and Sopwith was forced to round up keen amateur sailors, who had the enthusiasm but not the experience.
Unlike his opponent who had a Tobin bronze plating over steel frames and duralumin mast, Endeavour had a steel hull and a steel mast. This is what allowed him to resist so long against corrosion.
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