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THE SELECTION OF THE DEFENDER 1930

Category: 1930 : CHALLENGE N°14

 Rhode Island 1930: On sea trials for the America's Cup, the eventual cup winner ENTERPRISE [right] holds off WEETAMOE and YANKEE - by Adrian Rigby1. UNDER OBSERVATION, JULY 6-17

The America's Cup Committee held a meeting on board the flagship Nourmahal on Sunday afternoon, July 6, attended by representatives of each syndicate. The committee announced that the four candidates would race in pairs over the America's Cup course, races to start at fifteen-minute intervals.

This was a wise decision, as it duplicated the conditions, both as to course and match racing, which the Defender would face when racing Shamrock V. The yachts were scheduled to race alternately until six races had been completed; numbers 1, 2 and 3, 15 miles to windward and return;CHART OF OBSERVATION RACES (JULY 7- 17) - WINDWARD AND LEEWARD COURSES - TRIANGULAR COURSES numbers 4, 5 and 6 triangular, 10 miles to a side; the subsequent procedure to be announced at another meeting to be called at that time.

At the request of the New York Yacht Club the Government hadplaced a lighted whistling buoy 9 miles southeast of Brenton Reef Lightship. This buoy, known as the America's Cup buoy, was the starting and finishing point of all Observation, Trial and Cup races.

FIRST OBSERVATION RACE, JULY 7

1st Division - start 11:40
1 Weetamoe 3:43:55
2 Whirlwind 3:47:27
Weetamoe wins by 3' 32"
 
2nd Division - start 11:55
1 Yankee 3:49:07
2 Enterprise 3:51:03
Yankee wins by 1' 57"

At 11:40 Whirlwind and Weetamoe were sent away in the first division on the 15-mile windward leg in a westerly breeze that varied in strength from 12 to 15 miles; Yankee and Enterprise started at 11:55.

 

SECOND OBSERVATION RACE, JULY 8
1st Division
1 Whirlwind 3:23:16
2 Yankee 3:30:41
Whirlwind wins: 7' 25"
2nd Division
1 Weetamoe 3:25:47
2 Enterprise 3:26:13
Weetamoe wins: 26"
THIRD OBSERVATION RACE, JULY 9
1st Division
1 Enterprise 4:00:32
2 Whirlwind 4:08:28
Enterprise wins: 7' 56"
2nd Division
1 Weetamoe 3:56:41
2 Yankee 3:58:58
Weetamoe wins: 2' 17"
FORTH OBSERVATION RACE, JULY 10
1st Division
1 Enterprise 3:11:50
2 Yankee 3:12:24
Enterprise wins: 34"
2nd Division
1 Weetamoe 3:05:19
2 Whirlwind 3:05:54
Weetamoe wins: 33"
FIFTH OBSERVATION RACE, JULY 11
1st Division
1 Enterprise  
2 Weetamoe DNF
Enterprise win
2nd Division
1 Yankee 3:20:41
2 Whirlwind 3:22:16
Yankee wins: 1' 35"
SIXTH OBSERVATION RACE, JULY 12
1st Division
1 Weetamoe 5:44:28
2 Yankee DNF
Weetamoe wins
2nd Division
1 Enterprise 5:28:03
2 Whirlwind 6:10:27
Enterprise : 42' 24"
WEETAMOE, using sail #J4, and VANITIE, #I/3, New York Yacht Club Cruise, 1933
SEVENTH OBSERVATION RACE, JULY 14
1st Division
1 Weetamoe  
2 Enterprise DNF
Weetamoe wins
2nd Division
1 Whirlwind  
2 Yankee DNF
Whirlwind wins
EIGHTH OBSERVATION RACE, JULY 15
1st Division
0 Weetamoe DNF
0 Enterprise DNF
Race called off
2nd Division
0 Whirlwind DNF
0 Yankee DNF
Race called off
NINTH OBSERVATION RACE, JULY 16
1st Division
1 Weetamoe 3:26:44
2 Yankee 3:30:50
Weetamoe wins: 4' 6"
2nd Division
1 Enterprise 3:17:31
2 Whirlwind 3:23:42
Enterprise wins: 6' 11"
TENTH OBSERVATION RACE, JULY 17
1st and 2nd Divisions
1 Yankee 3:09:08
2 Weetamoe 3:12:16
3 Enterprise 3:14:09

 

POINTS WON DURING THE OBSERVATION RACES
  Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 Race 8 Race 9 Race 10 TOTAL
Weetamoe 2 2 2 2 DNF DNF 2 DNF 2 2 14
Yankee 2 1 1 1 2 DNF 2 DNS 1 3 13
Enterprise 1 1 2 2 2 2 DNF DNF 2 1 13
Whirlwind 1 2 1 1 1 1 DNF DNS 1 DNS 8

Committee decided to conclude the Observation Series with this race, and to cancel the races scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Les resultats sont serrees.

Toutefois, Weetamoe est peut-etre le plus dangereux candidats. Il termine invaincu dans les courses qu'il a terminees. A l'opposee, Whirlwind ne compte qu'une victoire.

 

2. THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB CRUISE, AUGUST 2-9

CHART OF THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB CRUISE (AUGUST 2-9)
RACE NEW LONDON TO NEWPORT
AUGUST 2
1 Weetamoe 4:02:45  
2 Enterprise 4:05:50 4' 05"
3 Whirlwind 4:15:31 12' 46"
4 Yankee DSQ  
<ENTERPRISE" REACHING ON THE SECOND LEG OF SECOND EASTERN YACHT CLUB RACE
RACE NEWPORT TO MATTAPOISETT
AUGUST 4
1 Yankee 2:41:42  
2 Enterprise 2:42:02 0' 20"
3 Whirlwind 2:42:14 0' 32"
4 Weetamoe 3:11:10 29' 28"
RACE IN BUZZZARD'S BAY
AUGUST 5
1 Enterprise 2:27:33  
2 Weetamoe 2:30:08 2' 35"
3 Yankee 2:30:26 2' 53"
4 Whirlwind 2:32:50 5' 17"
Rhode Island 1930: On sea trials for the America's Cup, the eventual cup winner ENTERPRISE [right] holds off WEETAMOE - by Adrian Rigby
MATTAPOISETT TO VINEYARD HAVEN
AUGUST 6
1 Enterprise 5:52:46  
2 Yankee 5:59:48 7' 02"
3 Whirlwind 6:05:38 12' 52"
4 Weetamoe DSQ 13' 30"
RACE VINEYARD HAVEN TO NEWPORT
AUGUST 7
1 Enterprise 4:44:25  
2 Weetamoe 4:44:44 0' 19"
3 Whirlwind 4:50:48 6' 23"
4 Yankee 4:52:44 8' 19"
COMMODORE ASTOR'S SPECIAL CUP
AUGUST 8
1 Enterprise 3:28:10  
2 Whirlwind 3:36:44 8' 34"
3 Weetamoe DNF  
4 Yankee DNF  
RACE FOR CITY OF NEWPORT CUP
AUGUST 9
1 Weetamoe 4:37:42  
2 Enterprise 4:46:57 9' 15"
3 Whirlwind 4:49:36 11' 54"
4 Yankee 5:03:03 25' 21"

 

POINTS WON ON THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB CRUISE
  2 AUG. 4 AUG. 5 AUG. 6 AUG. 7 AUG. 8 AUG. 9 AUG. TOTAL
Enterprise 3 3 4 4 0 4 3 21
Weetamoe 4 1 3 0 4 0 4 16
Whirlwind 2 2 1 2 3 3 2 15
Yankee 0 4 2 3 2 0 1 12

The conclusion of Harold S. Vanderbilt, skipper of Enterprise :

" Except for the fiasco we had made on the last day, which was not Enterprise's fault, I was well pleased with our showing on the New York Yacht Club Cruise. Boat for boat, Enterprise had beaten Weetamoe four times out of seven, Yankee six times out of seven, and Whirlwind seven times. We felt that Enterprise was going much better, particularly when sailing free, and that her rig was rounding into shape.

We thought that any edge Weetamoe might have had after the Observation Races no longer existed in the minds of the Cup Committee, and that the two boats would enter the Trial Races on even terms."

3. THE STRUGGLE FOR SELECTION, AUGUST 20-27

CHART OF OBSERVATION RACES (JULY 7- 17) - WINDWARD AND LEEWARD COURSES - TRIANGULAR COURSES The representatives of the four contenders reported to the America's Cup Committee on board the flagship Nourmahal at 6 P.M. on Tuesday, August 19, and were informed that the yachts would race in pairs, starting at 15-minute intervals, as in the Observation Races, and that the pairings would not be announced until the course signals were set.

FIRST TRIAL RACE, AUGUST 20

"ENTERPRISE" BEATING TO WINDWARD IN SECOND TRIAL RACEWednesday, August 20, proved to be a fine racing day. An 11-knot E.-by-N. breeze was blowing at the start of the race. The sea was smooth, the visibility good. As the wind was offshore, the committee signaled a 30-mile leeward and windward course and, at the same time, displayed the numbers 1 and 4 — Weetamoe vs. Enterprise — in the first division.

Enterprise started down wind with ballooner and small spinnaker set at 11:40, about a length ahead of and to leeward of Weetamoe, both boats on the starboard tack.

This race will long remain in the memory of the participants. There was not one moment's let-up. It was a race every foot of the way and the outcome was in doubt until both boats tacked for the finish. On the run down wind the two boats sailed on even terms; first one, then the other would benefit by a chance puff.

RACE 1 - AUGUST 20 - 15 miles to windward and return
  1st LEG RACE GAP
1st Division
start 11:40
1 Enterprise 2:02:33 4:22:14  
2 Weetamoe 2:03:04 4:23:20 1' 06"
2nd Division
start 11:55
1 Yankee 2:00:57 4:21:48  
2 Whirlwind 2:02:29 DNF  

The most critical part of this race was the last half mile before rounding the leeward mark. Both boats were running with spinnakers set to port, heading just to windward of the mark and making over 8 knots. Weetamoe was a length to leeward and half a length of open water astern. The mark had to be left to starboard, and before reaching it light sails had to be gotten in, working sails set, sheets trimmed, lee backstays hooked on and set up, the boats jibed and brought on the wind as they turned the mark.

It was imperative to be first boat around that mark. The Enterprise's crew did a very smart job shifting sails and thirty seconds later Weetamoe rounds, tacks as she reaches the mark, and Enterprise tacks with her. From then on it is tack for tack all the way up the weather leg. Enterprise wins by 1' 16" with an average speed of 6.84 knots.

 

SECOND TRIAL RACE, AUGUST 21

YANKEE - "A Desperate Battle" - by Russ KramerIt blew fresh all night after the first Trial Race, and the next morning was overcast with a strong northeast wind. The U. S. Weather Bureau at Block Island reported a 25-mile northeaster and rough sea, with every prospect of freshening before noon. A tropical hurricane from the Caribbean was making its way up the Gulf Stream about 150 miles offshore and we were having a taste of the northeaster which usually accompanies these disturbances on the coast.

"ENTERPRISE" WITH HER HEAVY WEATHER RIG ON FINAL TRIAL SPIN The course was a 30-mile triangular race , the first and third legs reaches, the second a beat; the numbers 1 and 4 — Weetamoe vs. Enterprise, in the first division. Enterprise crossed with good headway close to the committee boat at the leeward end of the line right after the gun. Weetamoe was two lengths astern and an equal distance to windward. Both boats carried small jib topsails on the first leg. Enterprise had sailed the first 10 miles at the rate of 13.25 knots, leading by 25 seconds.

Weather conditions were too severe to indulge in much jockeying. "This was the hardest windward leg I have ever sailed. No man aboard Enterprise that day will ever forget it." said Harold S. Vanderbilt. Enterprise crossed Weetamoe by over 2 minutes and Weetamoe continued quite a way before tacking. Both boats came to the mark on the wrong tack, for they had to tack around it and ease sheets. This meant some delay while the backstays were taken forward. Enterprise rounded the mark 3' 47" before Weetamoe who got around the mark in good shape, but Enterprise lost at least a minute after rounding because trouble unhooking her topmast back-stay prevented she from easing the main sheet.

RACE 2 - AUGUST 21 - Course: Triangular, 10 miles to a side
  1st LEG 2nd LEG 3rd LEG RACE GAP
1st Division
start 11:40
1 Enterprise 45:15 1:17:26 46:39 2:49:20  
2 Weetamoe 45:40 1:21:13 45:35 2:52:28 3' 08"
2nd Division
start 11:55
1 Yankee 44:45 1:16:24 46:50 2:47:59  
2 Whirlwind 45:05 1:22:50 46:53 2:54:48 6' 49"

It blew harder rounding that weather mark than at any other time. Twenty-five knots was registered by the anemometer on the Race Committee tug. On the broad reach to the finish, Weetamoe carried a small jib topsail, but Enterprise was content with her working sails. Enterprise swept across the finish line after 2 hours 49 minutes and 20 seconds, Weetamoe following 3 minutes and 8 seconds after. Enterprise had broken the all-time record for the 30-mile course. Columbia in 1901 had sailed it in 2 hours 51 minutes 48 seconds. But this record stood for just over 13 minutes when Yankee broke it by 1 minute 21 seconds.

In the 2d Division, Yankee had some troubles too. She lost her jib on the windward leg and tore a small hole in her reefed mainsail. She defeated Whirlwind with ease, however.

THIRD TRIAL RACE, AUGUST 27

Wednesday, August 27, Weetamoe raced Whirlwind in the first division and Enterprise raced Yankee in the second division on a 30-mile leeward and windward course in a very light northerly breeze and smooth sea. At 3 P.M., when we were about three miles short of the leeward mark and a mile ahead of Yankee, the Race Committee, at the suggestion of the Cup Committee, called the race off, as there was no possibility of finishing within the time limit.

On the evening, the America's Cup Committee had a meeting on board the Flagship and decided :

"Enterprise" selected to defend the America's cup

 

POINTS WON DURING SEASON'S RACING BETWEEN CUP CANDIDATES, JUNE 11-AUGUST 27, 1930
  L.I.SOUND RACES
E.Y.C. RACES
OBSERVATION
RACES
N.Y.Y.C. CRUISE
TRIAL RACES
TOTAL
Enterprise 18 17 13 21 4 73
Weetamoe 18 9 14 16 2 59
Yankee 4 13 13 12 4 46
Whirlwind 10 8 8 15 1 42