Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31

use to which the new type craft could be pat.
The opportunity was not long in comma
In 1851 worlds fair to be held in Lone
don which would be attended by representa<
tives of most of the nations of Europe and Cd
the United States. 1t would be frSt-rat0
chance to show the world what America could
do. So syndicate was formed by Commodore
Stevens, his brother, Edwin A: Stevens; Georgs
L. Schuyler Col. James A. Hamilton, J. u.
Finley and Hamilton Wilkes. This was the
first syndicate to build a racing boat IN
America and the last until a defender was
built in 1885,
The idea of sending fast vessel to Britain
Immediately appealed mot only to those d.
rectly interested in ships but to the general
public of this country. Discussions were he'd
in the newspapers and many suggestions were
made Practically all of the big yachts in
Europe were SchoonerS, and it was suggested
that schooner should be sent to meet theuAs
The syndicate finally decided, however. that u
would be more fitting to preserve entirely the
strictly American individuality of the ship and
use the Sandy Hook pilot boat rig,
GEORGE STEERS, foreman of Browns Ship
yard on the East River, was commissioned
to design the craft, and the contract was LEI
to the same yard. While Steers was the de-
Signer and had all the technical knowledge
necessary, the design of the new craft was
greatly influenced by Commodore Stevens, wla6
The America was to be of 14O tons displaces
ment, of keel type rather than have a centers
board practically all of the American boats
of the time had. She was to follow in general
the lines of the Mary Taylor. When CONS
pleted it was found her waterline length was
80 feet inches beam % feet, draft IL feet
with mainmast 81 feet tall and a forward
mast 1914 feet The masts were set at the
unusual rake used on the fast clippers and
pilot boats, and her sail area 5,263 square
feet
Below decks she had a large main salocvs
with six berths. four state rooms galley q forss
castle to accommodate 20 men and lAxaN
bath room. This idea that boats were made &M
practical use prevailed in the Americas Gun
defenders and challengers down to the IathG@
part Of the last century, when they evolved
into such highly specialized craft that none o1
the space below could be used for anything
but bracing and ballast.
In her first races after launching the Americas
was rather badly beaten on a number of Occls
sions. She was fast boat, but the Maria, aax
enormous sloop. about 20 per cent larger thaax
the America, was faster and in addition had a
crew who had sailed her for several seasons
The syndicate refused to be discouraged auth
on June 81, 1851, set sail for England so fdrl
of confidence that they def1ed nautical supeKAs
Stition and carried crew ard passengers NUNS
bering exactly IS. Capt. Dick Brown, a Sandgl
Hook pilot, was in command; Nels COmstocA
was mate, and there were six seamen, a steWa
ard and cook IN addition to the designer
George Steers, and his brother and nephew
They reached Havre three weeks later, where
Commodore Stevens, as managing owner, met
her and had her refitted and slight changes
made in her stem.
These were completed on July ST. and ON
that night began the real history of interna-
tional yacht racing. Slowing all her supplies
and spare gear below the America sailed for
the Solent. She was forced to spend the night
at anchor miles from Cowes. When the
breeze OF the morning blew away the fog the
English cutter Layerock waiting for q race
back TO the Isle of Wight Unfortunately for the
syndicate's plans for financing the trip o.
Europe, Commodore Stevens was too much Of