Columbia (1899 yacht)

Columbia vs. Shamrock, 1899. Photograph by John S. Johnston.

Columbia was the defender of the tenth America's Cup race in 1899 against British challenger Shamrock as well as the defender of the eleventh America's Cup race in 1901 against British challenger, Shamrock II. It was the first vessel to win the trophy twice in a row (a record not equalled until Intrepid's back-to-back wins in 1967 and 1970.)

Design

Columbia, a fin keel sloop, was designed and built in 1898-9 by Nathanael Herreshoff and the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company for owners J. Pierpont Morgan and Edwin Dennison Morgan of the New York Yacht Club. It was the third winning defender built by Herreshoff.

Columbia had a nickel steel frame, a tobin bronze hull, and a steel mast (later replaced with one of Oregon pine.)

Career

Columbia, demasted, 1899. Photograph by John S. Johnston.

Columbia was launched on June 10, 1899. It easily won the elimination trials against the rebuilt former defender, Defender. Skippered by Charlie Barr, it won all three races against the British defender, Shamrock in the 1899 America's Cup. Notably, Hope Goddard Iselin was the only female on the crew, serving as afterguard.

Columbia was selected again in 1901 to defend the Cup, and again under the command of Charlie Barr, won all three races against Reliance.

Columbia was cut up for scrap in 1913 at City Island.

Specifications

• Overall length: 40.15 m
• Length at water line: 27.25 m
• Beam (width): 7.39 m
• Draft: 5.97 m
• Displacement: 148.7 tonnes
• Sail area: 1189 m²

References and external links

• America's Cup's Ac-clopaedia
• The 19th Century Yacht Photography of J.S. Johnston
• Hope Iselin - 32nd America's Cup