ABOUT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS

SHAMROCK V (Also known as ‘Quadrifoglio’) - JK3

Sir Thomas Lipton was the owner of the English grocery chain LIPTON, and famous for his import of Lipton Tea from India. Sir Thomas made all five of his challenges as a member of Royal Ulster Yacht Club, a club that continues to this day to have a strong involvement with The Cup.

ENDEAVOUR - JK4

Sir T.O.M. Sopwith designed and built aeroplanes during the First World War and was known for the Sopwith Camel, one of the most successful fighting aircraft of its time. He went on to create a vast Aero industry, and used many technical developments and skills from the aircraft industry in the design of his J’s.

VELSHEDA - JK7

W.L.Stephenson owned a chain of general stores throughout the UK called Woolworth. Previously he has owned and enjoyed ‘White Heather’ but when the J Class Yachts came into being, he ordered a new J to offer competition within the British fleet. Stephenson never planned to compete for the America’s Cup. Velsheda was named from his three daughters Velma, Daphne and Shelia.

BRITANNIA - K1

King George V loved his yacht Britannia and won many races with her. On his death the yacht was taken by the Royal Navy to the south of the Isle of Wight and scuttled, in accordance with his Will.

ENTERPRISE - RANGER - J5

Owner-skipper Harold Vanderbilt (1884-1970), was born to extreme wealth and used it wisely, investing in J-boats for the defence of the America’s Cup. A Harvard Law graduate, he successfully defended the America’s Cup three times with Enterprise (1930), Rainbow (1934), and the mighty Ranger (1937), last of the J-Class. A good sailor and tactician, Vanderbilt, helmed for all three defenses, with tactician Sherman Hoyt. One of his greatest successes was against Endeavour in 1934, where he came back from a 2:0 start to win the next three races, defeating one of the strongest challenges to the Cup up to that point.

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