Reliance_Crossing_Finish_Line
I’m a traditionalist. My favorite piece of AC tradition: the 12th America’s Cup defense.
RELIANCE: largest yacht built for America’s Cup competition
Length of Hull: 149′
LWL: 89′ 6″
LOA: 201′ 9″ (from end of bowsprit to end of main boom. BTW, main boom was 115′ long)
Topmast height: 218′ (USA17 wing 223′)
Sail area: 16,160 sq ft
Mainsheet: 800′ tapered 4″ diameter manila rope
Rigging: 3.9 miles (about the length of a leg in AC32)
Bulb keel: 102 tons
Crew: 64 (58 Scandinavian fishermen + 6 afterguard, including N.G. Herreshoff & Charlie Barr, helm
Designed by N.G. Herreshoff, assisted by 4 draftsmen in preparing the drawings.
N.G. Herreshoff carved the model for RELIANCE in two evenings working at home.
Timeline: 6 months to design & build + 4 months racing trials before the Match.
7 Oct 1902: Challenge received from Royal Ulster YC (Sir Thomas Lipton built Shamrock III)
12 Apr 1903: Reliance launched. BTW, Herreshoff helmed her the first time she sailed and buried the leeward rail.
20 Aug 1903: First race of the 12th America’s Cup defense.
A few details, examples of Herreshoff’s technical skill:
– Reliance’s hollow rudder filled with water from a hole in the bottom to reduce lee helm. A foot pump on deck could force air in and the water out to change helm feel.
– Two speed winches below decks, with worm gears, disc clutches and ball bearings, wound wire sheets directly on drums, and were self-releasing.
As for the demands on the crew… how would you like to gybe this monster, with that 115′ long boom? The crew bound their fingers with spun yarn to protect them – sort of the way you would whip the end of a rope.