Ranger (yacht)
The J-class yacht Ranger won the 1937 America's Cup, defeating the British challenger Endeavour II 4-0 at Newport, Rhode Island. It was the last time J-class yachts would race for the America's Cup.
Construction
Harold Stirling Vanderbilt funded construction of the Ranger, and she was launched on May 11, 1937. She was designed by Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens, and constructed by Bath Iron Works. Stephens would credit Burgess with actually designing the Ranger, but the radical departure from conventional J-class design was more likely attributable to Stephens himself. Geerd Hendel, Burgess's chief draftsman also had a hand in drawing many of the plans.
Ranger was constructed according to the Universal Rule which determined how large various dimensions of racing yachts, such as sail area and length, could be. Often referred to as the "super J", the Ranger received a rating of 76, the maximum allowed while still fitting within Universal Rule constraints.
Specifications
- Overall length: 135 ft 2 inches[1]
- Length at water line: 87 ft
- Beam (width): 20 ft 10 inches
- Draft: 15 ft
- Displacement: 166 tons
Comparison of 87–90ft America's Cup contenders:
| Year | LOA | LWL | Sail Area | Mast height | Displacement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance | 1903 | 43.89 m (144.0 ft) | 27.43 m (90.0 ft) | 1,501 m2 (16,156.6 sq ft) | 67.05 m (220.0 ft) | 189 tons |
| Ranger | 1937 | 41.15 m (135.0 ft) | 26.51 m (87.0 ft) | 701 m2 (7,545.5 sq ft) | 46.98 m (154.1 ft) | 166 tons |
| KZ1 | 1988 | 36.57 m (120.0 ft) | 27.43 m (90.0 ft) | 627 m2 (6,749 sq ft) | 46.78 m (153.5 ft) | 39 tons |
| USA-17 | 2010 | 34.5 m (113 ft) | 27.43 m (90.0 ft) | 1,270 m2 (13,670.2 sq ft) | 68 m (223 ft) | 18 tons |
Replica
Construction of a replica of Ranger was started at Danish Yacht Boatyard in early 2002 and was completed in late December 2003. The original designs were used as the basis for the new boat but were updated to conform to the latest safety regulations and the requirement of the owner to cross oceans in comfort.
References
- ↑ "America's Cup Winner A Marvel In Design". Popular Mechanics: pp.486-487. 1937-08. http://books.google.com/books?id=u9oDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA486.
