One yacht was so famous she became a true role model. America was the ultimate racing machine. Designed and built by James and George Steers for the New York Yacht Club specifically to win the first America’s Cup race - she sailed across the Atlantic and did just that in 1851. Britain has never won the Trophy back. Intriguingly this half hull model was built to scale by G L Watson, the Scottish builder of numerous vanquished America’s Cup Challengers which included: Thistle, Valkyrie, Valkyrie II and Shamrock II – was he trying to discover her secrets? (We are indebted to Dr William Collier, Managing Director of G. L. Watson & Co. Ltd. for letting us reproduce the original plans).
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