Does anyone have a good online source for information on Vigilant,
Defender, and Columbia, the winners of the 1893, 1895 and 1899
America's Cup races, respectively?

We're putting together a website on yacht racing in the 1890s (as seen
by 19th-century maritime photographer J. S. Johnston) at
http:www.jsjohnston.org , and we sorely need help identifying and
providing historical and technical information for many of the vessels
from this period. These three were obviously extremely important racing
yachts of this era, but there is surprising little available (or am I
looking in all the wrong places?)

Thanks for any help!

Chris Baer

wrote:
Does anyone have a good online source for information on Vigilant,
Defender, and Columbia, the winners of the 1893, 1895 and 1899
America's Cup races, respectively?

Not online, but very highly recommended:
Temple to the Wind: The Story of America's Greatest Naval Architect
and His Masterpiece, Reliance (Hardcover)

isbn 1592285570


This gives the history of Herreshoff's involvement in the America's Cup.

wrote:
Does anyone have a good online source for information on Vigilant,
Defender, and Columbia, the winners of the 1893, 1895 and 1899
America's Cup races, respectively?


Online, probably the Herreshoff Museum is the best
reference; but there isn't really a lot of in-depth material
there.


We're putting together a website on yacht racing in the 1890s (as seen
by 19th-century maritime photographer J. S. Johnston) at
http:www.jsjohnston.org

WOW
Those are awesome pictures.

and we sorely need help identifying and
providing historical and technical information for many of the vessels
from this period. These three were obviously extremely important racing
yachts of this era, but there is surprising little available (or am I
looking in all the wrong places?)

Thanks for any help!

Chris Baer


An excellent reference (although off-line) is L. Francis
Herreshoffs books on his father's life & yacht designs; and
his book "Introduction to Yacht Racing" which isn't really
about yacht racing at all, but was a collection of
reminiscences about yacht racing in the 1890s and 1900s.

Your web site is well organized and the pictures are
beautiful: clear & detailed, sharp, well framed and chosen
from very good angles.

Hope this helps.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

i have a nice book with all the detailed histtory.,.... might be
easiest to scan the 3 pages of summary races in...... but here is what
you want:

oct 7, 1893, Vigilant v Valkyrie II, course was 15 miles to leeward
from sandy hook lightship and return. 30 miles. Vigilant won by 5.48
(MM/SS) on corrected time (there is lots of detailed of actual/adjusted
times)

oct 9,..... Equilateral triangle from sandy hook lightship. 30 miles,
vigilant won by 10.35....

i just realized i have every race, so i'll net out..... Viglian won
the 3rd race by 40 seconds.

1895: Sept 7, 10, 12. Defender v. Valkyrie III. Race 1 won by
Defender 8.49, Race 2 won by Valkkyrie by 0.47 but disqualified for
fouling Defender, and Valkyrie did not finish the 3rd race (note says
"withdrew on crossing the line).

1899: Columbia v . Shamrock... Columbia won first race. Shamrock did
not finish 2nd race (note says "carried away topsail; withdrew"),
Columbia won the thrid race by 6.34.

The source of this is "The Pictoral History of The Amercias Cup Races"
by Robert W. Carrick. published in 1946 by the Viking Press.

wrote:
Does anyone have a good online source for information on Vigilant,
Defender, and Columbia, the winners of the 1893, 1895 and 1899
America's Cup races, respectively?

We're putting together a website on yacht racing in the 1890s (as seen
by 19th-century maritime photographer J. S. Johnston) at
http:www.jsjohnston.org , and we sorely need help identifying and
providing historical and technical information for many of the vessels
from this period. These three were obviously extremely important racing
yachts of this era, but there is surprising little available (or am I
looking in all the wrong places?)

Thanks for any help!

Chris Baer

Very Nice Chris. Thanks for sharing.

Joe

Thank you all for your responses!

We really appreciate all the suggestions and tips!

Now come some harder questions:

There are other vessels on our site http://www.jsjohnston.org that
are equally impressive but do not seem to have any America's Cup or
Herreshoff connections.

For example, take a look at these extremely impressive vessels:
* Montauk http://www.jsjohnston.org/~montauk.html
* Varuna http://www.jsjohnston.org/~varuna.html

Where could we go to learn more about these (and similar) yachts? These
are obviously huge vessels built and owned by (I'm sure) very powerful
people. There must be a record of them somewhere!

Any thoughts?

Thanks again for your help!

Chris Baer
http://www.jsjohnston.org

Varuna:

Eugene Higgins (1860-1948) was heir to his father Elias's New York City
carpet manufacturing fortune--an estimated fifty million dollars--and
according to the society pages, he was not only the wealthiest bachelor
in New York, but also the most handsome. (12) Higgins sold the family
business shortly after assuming control of it in 1889, which allowed
him to devote his attention to more leisurely pursuits. (13) He was a
devoted golfer, cross-country rider, fisherman, hunter, coach racer,
yachtsman, and fencer. In 1890 he won the American fencing
championship, and his yacht, Varuna, named for the Hindu god of the
ocean, was declared the most modern vessel of its kind. (14) A
celebrated host, Higgins planned "sumptuous pleasure campaigns" in
advance of each season for his elite circle of friends, and his town
house at Fifth Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street, and country estate in
Morristown, New Jersey, were regarded as "meccas of high society."

Joe



wrote:
Thank you all for your responses!

We really appreciate all the suggestions and tips!

Now come some harder questions:

There are other vessels on our site http://www.jsjohnston.org that
are equally impressive but do not seem to have any America's Cup or
Herreshoff connections.

For example, take a look at these extremely impressive vessels:
* Montauk http://www.jsjohnston.org/~montauk.html
* Varuna http://www.jsjohnston.org/~varuna.html

Where could we go to learn more about these (and similar) yachts? These
are obviously huge vessels built and owned by (I'm sure) very powerful
people. There must be a record of them somewhere!

Any thoughts?

Thanks again for your help!

Chris Baer
http://www.jsjohnston.org

Joe wrote:
Varuna:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~bmuwgw/varuna.jpg


Eugene Higgins (1860-1948) was heir to his father Elias's New York City
carpet manufacturing fortune--an estimated fifty million dollars--and
according to the society pages, he was not only the wealthiest bachelor
in New York, but also the most handsome. (12) Higgins sold the family
business shortly after assuming control of it in 1889, which allowed
him to devote his attention to more leisurely pursuits. (13) He was a
devoted golfer, cross-country rider, fisherman, hunter, coach racer,
yachtsman, and fencer. In 1890 he won the American fencing
championship, and his yacht, Varuna, named for the Hindu god of the
ocean, was declared the most modern vessel of its kind. (14) A
celebrated host, Higgins planned "sumptuous pleasure campaigns" in
advance of each season for his elite circle of friends, and his town
house at Fifth Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street, and country estate in
Morristown, New Jersey, were regarded as "meccas of high society."

Joe



wrote:
Thank you all for your responses!

We really appreciate all the suggestions and tips!

Now come some harder questions:

There are other vessels on our site http://www.jsjohnston.org that
are equally impressive but do not seem to have any America's Cup or
Herreshoff connections.

For example, take a look at these extremely impressive vessels:
* Montauk http://www.jsjohnston.org/~montauk.html
* Varuna http://www.jsjohnston.org/~varuna.html

Where could we go to learn more about these (and similar) yachts? These
are obviously huge vessels built and owned by (I'm sure) very powerful
people. There must be a record of them somewhere!

Any thoughts?

Thanks again for your help!

Chris Baer
http://www.jsjohnston.org

wrote:

Thank you all for your responses!

We really appreciate all the suggestions and tips!

Now come some harder questions:

There are other vessels on our site http://www.jsjohnston.org that
are equally impressive but do not seem to have any America's Cup or
Herreshoff connections.

For example, take a look at these extremely impressive vessels:
* Montauk http://www.jsjohnston.org/~montauk.html

From:
http://www.by-the-sea.com/articles/poillon.html

1882
Montauk

Designer:
Phil Ellsworth

Built for: John E Brooks
Owner: S.R. Platt


Centerboard Schooner Yacht 103 ft 92 Tons
94 ft waterline
Had a long racing career
She was launched at Gowanus Yard, Sails by Sawyer (AYL 1883)"

** end quote **

I was thinking this vessel was involved in a disastrous
capsize while at anchor, but after more thought, it seems
like that was the more extreme centerboarder "Mohawk."

DSK

On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 09:23:18 -0800, Joe wrote:

Varuna:

Eugene Higgins (1860-1948) was heir to his father Elias's New York City
carpet manufacturing fortune--an estimated fifty million dollars--and
according to the society pages, he was not only the wealthiest bachelor
in New York, but also the most handsome. (12) Higgins sold the family
business shortly after assuming control of it in 1889, which allowed him
to devote his attention to more leisurely pursuits. (13) He was a
devoted golfer, cross-country rider, fisherman, hunter, coach racer,
yachtsman, and fencer. In 1890 he won the American fencing championship,
and his yacht, Varuna, named for the Hindu god of the ocean, was
declared the most modern vessel of its kind. (14) A celebrated host,
Higgins planned "sumptuous pleasure campaigns" in advance of each season
for his elite circle of friends, and his town house at Fifth Avenue and
Thirty-fourth Street, and country estate in Morristown, New Jersey, were
regarded as "meccas of high society."

Also, "The Varuna was wrecked off the coast of Madeira on November 17,
1909, and although all but one of the crew was saved none of the contents
survived. "

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...n16068356/pg_2