Lot Essay
For footnotes on Britannia, Cambria, Lulworth and Candida, see lots 132 and 133.
Mr. T.O.M. (Tommy) Sopwith built two yachts, each named Endeavour, to mount his challenges for the America's Cup in the mid-1930s. Both Endeavours were J-Class yachts designed by Charles Nicholson and built by Camper & Nicholson at Gosport, the first being launched in 1934. Endeavour (I), displacing 143 tons and rigged to carry 7,560 square feet of sail, was considered the best J-Class boat of her day and came extremely close to winning the Cup races of 1934. Skippered by Sopwith himself and using a double-clewed jib designed by him, she was defeated by the American defender Rainbow by only the narrowest of margins.
Velsheda, another contemporary thoroughbred from the same yard and designer, was built for Mr. W.L. Stephenson, the Chairman of Woolworth's (U.K.) in 1933. Extremely fast, she was one of the legendary J-class yachts and even beat the King's Britannia on one celebrated occasion. Apart from her glittering career in the 1930s, during which she won many trophies for her owner, she now shares the distinction - along with Shamrock (V) and Endeavour (I) - of being one of the three remaining J-class boats which have survived until the present day and she is still racing competitively.
Mr. T.O.M. (Tommy) Sopwith built two yachts, each named Endeavour, to mount his challenges for the America's Cup in the mid-1930s. Both Endeavours were J-Class yachts designed by Charles Nicholson and built by Camper & Nicholson at Gosport, the first being launched in 1934. Endeavour (I), displacing 143 tons and rigged to carry 7,560 square feet of sail, was considered the best J-Class boat of her day and came extremely close to winning the Cup races of 1934. Skippered by Sopwith himself and using a double-clewed jib designed by him, she was defeated by the American defender Rainbow by only the narrowest of margins.
Velsheda, another contemporary thoroughbred from the same yard and designer, was built for Mr. W.L. Stephenson, the Chairman of Woolworth's (U.K.) in 1933. Extremely fast, she was one of the legendary J-class yachts and even beat the King's Britannia on one celebrated occasion. Apart from her glittering career in the 1930s, during which she won many trophies for her owner, she now shares the distinction - along with Shamrock (V) and Endeavour (I) - of being one of the three remaining J-class boats which have survived until the present day and she is still racing competitively.