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Category: 1920 : CHALLENGE N°13
Resolute and Vanitie in elimination series to decide Defender of the America's Cup
NEW YORK, SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 1920.
It is the intention of the New York Yacht Club to resume its elimination contests between Resolute and Vanitie next spring and not pick the defender of the America's Cup until after the series is ended.
When Sir Thomas Lipton's challenge first was accepted in the winter of 1913-14, three yachts were built to try for the honor of defending the historic trophy.
One was designed by the Herreshoffs for a syndicate of New York Yacht Club members. It was called the "flag officers' boat." Dame Rumor generally believes that Resolute will be the defending yacht.
Alexander Smith Cochran, a Yonker yachtman, also a member of the club, personally built and fitted out a yacht called Vanitie. The craft was from the board of William Gardner, and was built by George Lawley & Son, of Neponset, Mass. The third boat was built by a tricity syndicate, and was called Defiance. it was designed by George Owens of Bolton, and was built at the Bath Iron Works, Me.
When the three yachts were launched, the New York Yacht Club arranged for a series of races that begin in early June of 1914 and continued until the end of August. Midway in the series it was discovered that Defiance was a failure and the yacht was withdrawn. It left Vanitie and Resolute to fight it out for the honor of defending the trophy.
The series was brought to a sudden end when the World War started in August, 1914. At that time Resolute had a decided advantage over Vanitie. Many believed that the Gardner boat would have done decidedly better had it been as well manned as the Resolute. There was some talk of changing crews and after tuning up, trying the yachts out under the novel conditions. This was never done.
These races will be resumed the coming spring. Also, it is understood, that Mr. Cochran has given his boat to the New York Yacht Club to use in any way it pleases. Mr. Cochran is now in Europe, but it is known that orders have been issued to put Vanitie into commission and that the craft is going to be raced this spring.
TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1920.
A wager of $500 against $250 that Resolute will defeat the Vanitie in the trial races for the honor of defend the America's Cup against Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock IV was made in the Harvard Club here on Saturday night. The preliminary tests will begin May 20.
Supporters of the Resolute seem convinced that their boat is a speed marvel and that no matter what changes are made in the Vanitie, either to her hull or to her rig, the Herreshoff sloop will lead the way over the finish line in every trial, unless she is beset by a series of misfortunes.
MONDAY, MAY 24, 1920.
Saturday's unofficial and unfortunate battle between the cup yachts Vanitie and Resolute off New Haven left maritime fans with only one line of workable, tangible dope. That line is on the Resolute.
Although she blew out her newfangled mast when she was streaking over the line at the end of her first round of the course, the boat's performance was a glorious one, even though it was a bit undignified at the finish. She looked strangely like the wreck of the Hesperus as she foolishly bobbed about after being dismasted, but those who had witnessed her mad fourteen-mile gallop didn't care a bit. They were too busy giving vent to their enthusiasm. They were bubbling over with it.
MONDAY, JUNE 03, 1920.Herreshoff Craft Defeats Vanitie in Opening Test for Choice of Defender -- Victory Is Won by 4 Minutes 7 Seconds Actual Time.
Resolute renewed her series of victories over Vanitie off here today when the Herreshoff sloop defeated the Gardner creation by 4 minutes 7 seconds actual time and 5 minutes 39 seconds corrected time over a 28-mile windward and leeward course in a brisk southwesterly breeze from 12 to 16 knots. Resolute led from start to finish.
TUESDAY, JUNE 08, 1920.Gardner Yacht wins Long Run By 1 1/2 Minutes -- Herreshoff Sloop Retarded by III-Fitting Sails--Candidates Now Are Tied
NEWPORT. R. I., June 7.- The Vanitie showed marked superiority over the Resolute to-day, winning the second race of the series to determine the defender of the America's Cup. The race to-day was over a triangular thirty-mile course in a whole-sail north-western.
| Summary of the second race | ||||||
| Yacht | Start | Mark 1 | Mark 2 | Finish | Elapsed Time |
Corrected Time |
| Vanitie | 11:00:02 | 11:48:55 | 12:46:42 | 2:13:40 | 3h13'38" | 3h13'38" |
| Resolute | 11:00:06 | 11:49:40 | 12:48:08 | 2:17:00 | 3h16'54" | 3h15'12" |
The Gardner yacht won by 1 minute 34 seconds, corrected time, leading the Resolute throughout and gaining on every leg. The Vanitie's corrected time for the course was 3:13:38 and the Resolute's 3:15:12. It was the fastest time made since the Columbia defeated the Shamrock II, in 1903.
The Resolute's sails did not fit well, and it was apparent that she lost time through the defect. The Vanitie crossed the line two seconds after the starting signal, with the Resolute close astern. The first leg was a broad reach on the balloon jibs, and the ten miles were covered in less than fifty minutes. The second leg, a close fetch, was also sailed in fast time. The leg to the finish was a beat, with the wind dropping to about ten miles.
TUESDAY, JUNE 08, 1920.Adams Pilots Sloop Across Line Against Vanitie Just Inside Time Limit
| Summary of the third race | |||||
| Yacht | Start | Mark | Finish | Elapsed Time |
Corrected Time |
| Resolute | 11:02:24 | 2:48:00 | 5:56:50 | 5h54'50" | 5h53'08" |
| Vanitie | 11:02:27 | 3:27:00 | 5:28:15 | 6h26'15" | 6h26'15" |
NEWPORT. R. I., June 8.- The Resolute was credited with an official victory over the Vanitie here this afternoon in a fluke race that was a drifting match from start to finish. That the Resolute won was due to the fact that she managed to find a breath of a breeze that carried her over the finish line just inside the time limit of six hours. Her bronze adversary couldn't coax a fickle and wandering wind into her sails and spent most of the afternoon in a motionless calm. She was unable to finish within the prescribed time limit.
The result of to-day's race, if it could be called that, gives the Resolute two official victories to the Vanitie's one. The elapsed time for to-day's race follows: The Resolute, 5:53:08; the Vanitie, 6:26:15.
THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1920.Bronze Sloop In Lead From Start to End - Time Allowance Gives Resolute Victory Over Rival
NEWPORT. R. I., June 9.-The cup yacht Vanitie smashed the world's sailing record for a triangular thirty mile course here this afternoon, when in a race that has probably never been surpassed for thrills and spectacular maneuvering she crossed the finish line fifty-eight seconds ahead of the Resolute in the fourth of the America's Cup trials.
| Summary of the forth race | ||||||
| Yacht | Start | Mark 1 | Mark 2 | Finish | Elapsed Time |
Corrected Time |
| Resolute | 11:00:54 | 11:59:10 | 12:58:58 | 1:53:32 | 2h53'38" | 2h51'56" |
| Vanitie | 11:00:38 | 11:58:35 | 12:58:45 | 1:53:34 | 2h52'56" | 2h52'56" |
The Vanitie's actual time for the thirty miles was 2 hours 52 minutes and 38 seconds. The best previous time for the distance was that made by the famous cup defender Columbia against the Shamrock II, in October, 1901 when she covered a similar course in 3 hours 13 minutes and 18 seconds. This world's record was shattered to-day by both the Vanitie and Resolute.
Although the bronze sloop designed by William Gardner led the Herreshoff entry from start to finish, she was unable to overcome the time allowance of 1 minute and 42 seconds she was compelled to concede the latter, and the race is officially chalked up as a victory for the Resolute.
FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1920.Victory Boosts Stock of Gardner Yacht, Herreshoff Gimp in Gloom
NEWPORT. R. I., June 10.- The Vanitie to-day took another reef in the Resolute's chances of becoming the America's Cup defender.
| Summary of the fifth race | |||||
| Yacht | Start | Mark | Finish | Elapsed Time |
Corrected Time |
| Vanitie | 11:00:18 | 1:09:32 | 2:42:51 | 3h42'33" | 3h42'33" |
| Resolute | 11:00:18 | 1:12:30 | 2:45:27 | 3h45'09" | 3h43'27" |
In a slashing fourteen-knot breeze she decisively defeated her old rival, crossing the finish line off Brenton's Reef Light Vessel with a lead of 2 minutes and 38 seconds. Deducting from this the Resolute's time allowance of 1 minute and 42 seconds, the Vanitie won by 64 seconds.
The loss of to-day's race was a heavy blow to Resolute rooters, as the weather and type of race sailed were exactly to her liking and rather to the disadvantage of the Gardner sloop. The course was a fifteen-mile beat to windward and return, and as the yachts shot over the starting line there were few who believed that the Vanitie had anything better than a slim fighting chance.
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1920.Adams Out-generals and Outmaneuvers Nichols for Necessary 57 Sec.
| Summary of the sixth race | |||||
| Yacht | Start | Mark | Finish | Elapsed Time |
Corrected Time |
| Resolute | 11:01:12 | 1:21:33 | 2:53:37 | 3h52'25" | 3h50'43" |
| Vanitie | 11:01:53 | 1:21:55 | 2:53:33 | 3h51'40" | 3h51'40" |
NEWPORT. R. I., June 11.- Sprinting for the finish line with her club topsail hanging down in her rigging in a tangled wreck, the Resolute turned the tables on the Vanitie here this afternoon by winning the sixth official elimination trial by 57 seconds, corrected time.
The bronze flyer crossed the line first by four seconds in to-days race, but was defeated by the time allowance of 1 minute and 42 seconds conceded to her Herreshoff rival. This is the fourth elimination race in which the Vanitie has finished first only to be beaten out by her handicap. Luckily for the Resolute the accident to her club topsail occurred only a short distance from the finish line and she was able to cling to the flying Vanitie long enough to be saved.
| Summary of the seventh race | ||||||
| Yacht | Start | Mark 1 | Mark 2 | Finish | Elapsed Time |
Corrected Time |
| Vanitie | 11:00:22 | 1:11:33 | 2:11:58 | 3:09:53 | 4h09'31" | 4h09'31" |
| Resolute | 11:00:52 | 1:16:05 | 2:16:53 | 3:17:07 | 4h15'15" | 4h13'33" |
SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 1920.Gardner Craft Beats Resolute for Third Time by 4:02 Besides Allowance
NEWPORT. R. I., June 12.- The Resolute was no match for the Vanitie in the seventh elimination trial held on the ocean off Brenton's Reef Vessel to-day. Over a triangular thirty-mile course in a light variable wind and a smooth sea, the bronze beauty decisively trounced her old rival on all points of sailing and crossed the finish line five minutes and forty-four seconds in the lead.
After seven races, resolute leads by four victories against three for Vanitie.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1920.Herreshoff Yacht Leads Rival by 2:06. Elapsed Time in Run Off Newport
| Summary of the eighth race | |||||
| Yacht | Start | Mark | Finish | Elapsed Time |
Corrected Time |
| Resolute | 11:00:15 | 11:58:00 | 2:10:16 | 3h10'01" | 3h08'26" |
| Vanitie | 11:00:19 | 11:58:30 | 2:12:16 | 3h12'07" | 3h12'07" |
NEWPORT. R. I., June 15.- The Resolute won the eighth America's Cup defense elimination race from the Vanitie to-day by the widest margin either yacht has had in the last week: 2 minutes 6 seconds in elapsed time and 3 minutes 41 seconds in corrected time. The race was sailed in an increasing breeze and over a shortened course which had been expected to give the yachts a beat to the outer mark and a run to the finish. The wind hauled on the last leg, making it a reach.
After the race Manager Hoyt of the Vanitie asserted that the Resolute's gain on the last leg was due to a jammed centerboard on the Vanitie, which compelled the Gardner boat to drag the board. Divers worked on the centerboard box to-night in an effort to free the board.
Secretary George A. Cormack of the New York Yacht Club announced that the committee on cup defense had decided to keep the yachts racing until June 26.
| Summary of the ninth race | |||||
| Yacht | Start | Mark | Finish | Elapsed Time |
Corrected Time |
| Resolute | 11:01:24 | 12:27:06 | 2:44:22 | 3h42'58" | 3h41'16" |
| Vanitie | 11:01:19 | 12:28:06 | 2:44:42 | 3h43'24" | 3h43'24" |
SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 1920.Sailing in Light Airs, Cup Defense Candidates Engage in a Close Race
NEWPORT. R. I., June 19.- Sailing in light airs, Resolute won a sixth victory to-day in the ninth of the trial races with Vanitie to determine which shall meet Shamrock IV in defense of the America's Cup. The committee planned a leeward and windward race of 27 miles, but just as the yachts started the wind hauled from the northwest to the south, and a few minutes later it breezed up to seven knots.
The Resolute crossed the finish line 26 seconds ahead of her rival on elapsed time, which gives her a margin of 2 minutes 8 seconds corrected time.
THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1920.Time Allowance Gives Herreshoff Sloop the Honors in the Tenth Trial Race
| Summary of the tenth race | |||||
| Yacht | Start | Mark | Finish | Elapsed Time |
Corrected Time |
| Resolute | 1:46:37 | 2:59:42 | 4:30:23 | 2h43'46" | 2h42'38" |
| Vanitie | 1:45:30 | 2:59:04 | 4:29:15 | 2h43'45" | 2h43'45" |
NEWPORT. R. I., June 23.- In a windward and leeward race of twenty miles the Resolute defeated the Vanitie here this afternoon in the tenth of the trial contests being held to decide which sloop will defend the America's Cup. The Herreshoff yacht now has seven victories to the Gardner boat's three.
The Vanitie showed great speed on the windward leg and obtained a slight lead, which she held to the end, but, as in a majority of their former races, the bronze boat's lead was not great enough to overcome the time allowance of one minute and forty-two seconds she concedes to the Resolute. On corrected time the Herreshoff yacht won by 1 minute 7 seconds.
| Summary of the eleventh race | |||||
| Yacht | Start | Mark | Finish | Elapsed Time |
Corrected Time |
| Vanitie | 1:01:23 | 2:27:07 | 3:44:27 | 2h43'04" | 2h43'04" |
| Resolute | 1:01:50 | 2:28:37 | 3:46:44 | 2h44'54" | 2h43'46" |
FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1920.Committee May Announce Sloop to Defend America's Cup After Tomorrow's Contest
NEWPORT. R. I., June 24.- The sloop Vanitie defeated the Resolute to-day in their eleventh race in the elimination series for the honor of defending the America's Cup against the Shamrock IV, leading at the finish by 42 seconds corrected time and by 1 minute 60 seconds elapsed time. The race was over a twenty-mile windward and leeward course in a seven-knot south southwest breeze.
FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1920.
The Resolute, designed and built at Bristol. R. I. by Nat Herreshoff, will defend the America's Cup against Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock IV in the international races to be sailed off Sandy Hook in July. This fact became known here last night following the Resolute's seventh victory over the Vanitie on Wednesday at Newport.
From an authoritative source it was learned that, while the America's Cup committee, of which W. Butler Duncan is the head, has already selected the Resolute as the defense yacht, the announcement to this effect may not be made until Monday. It was originally intended to withhold the official announcement of the selection until the Resolute and Vanitie are brought here on July 6 to be measured at the Morse Iron Works, in Brooklyn.
SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 1920.NEWPORT, R. I., June 26.- The selection of the sloop Resolute to defend the America's Cup against the Shamrock IV, was announced to-day by C. Oliver Iselin a member of the committee on cup defense of the New York Yacht Club. It was also announced that the first race would be sailed off Sandy Hook on July 15.
The decision was reached after the committee had witnessed the last trial race between Resolute and Vanitie in their elimination series here to-day, which was called off about 20 minutes after the yachts had passed the outer mark with Vanitie a half mile in the lead.
The Resolute will be towed to Bristol at once for a complete overhauling, including the fitting of three new sets of sails and small spars.
The cost of the trial races this year reached about $25,000, financed by a syndicate which was formed to race the two yachts.
