THE YANKEE'S STORY

Category: YANKEE

Yankee, with new steel mast 1930

In answer to Lipton’s challenge of 1929 the Americans designed four J-Class yachts as possible defenders. Enterprise, Whirlwind, Yankee and Weetamoe were launched within a month of each other; Weetamoe and Enterprise from the Herreshoff yard in Bristol and Yankee and Whirlwind from Lawley & Son’s yard in Boston.

The third American J, Yankee, was the best all-rounder. Designed by Frank Paine, she had an almost straight sheer-line and easy lines. At 84 feet on the waterline and 125 feet length overall, she was solidly made of Tobin bronze at Lawley & Son’s yard and was extremely well balanced. Yankee was a powerful contender for defender, but not fine-tuned enough to succeed.

YANKEE IN 1930

WEETAMOE, YANKEE SAFELY LAUNCHED

BOSTON, May 10, 1930.--Both Weetamoe and Yankee, the last two of the America's Cup defense yachts in the water, took morning dips today.

Yankee Has First Test, Cup Yacht Sailing Three Hours and Half on Massachusetts Bay

MARBLEHEAD, Mass., May 22.- The Yankee, the first candidate for the America's Cup defense to represent Massachusetts Bay in twenty-nine years, received...

YANKEE IS LIVELY IN STRONG BREEZE

MARBLEHEAD, Mass., May 23.-- Shaking out a new main sail with two new head sails the Boston America's Cup candidate Yankee had her second spin in Massachusetts Bay today. The breeze was twice as heavy as yesterday, being well over ten knots from the northeast, and for the first hour the yacht used only three lower sails.

1934

YANKEE - " A Desperate Battle: YANKEE Vies to Defend the Cup, 1934" - by Russ KramerYankee did, however, take part in the 1934 America’s Cup trials and with alterations to her rig, to carry more sail, and bow, which was lengthened and made more of a V-shape, she then proved more successful, especially in light winds.

A subsequent major refit for the 1934 Defender Trials at the yard of George Lawley and Son altered Yankee’s forward and mid sections to optimise her for light to medium weather, which provided a marked improvement to her boatspeed. Credits to Frank Paine were made at the time, as her centreboard was the only one to measure under the new J Class Rule for the 1934 event.

After that conversion, Yankee became a very successful contender, nearly beat out Rainbow for 1934 Defender. After the trial races, she is purchased by Gerard Lambert who raced the America's Cup yacht Vanitie for several years, and also owned the schooner Atlantic.

YANKEE IN 1934

YANKEE MENTIONED AS CUP CANDIDATE

December 07, 1933.-- Yankee, the Boston syndicate yacht brought out for the America's Cup defense competition of 1930, again may be under canvas for a try at international representation in the match with T.O.M. Sopwith's challenger Endeavour next September.

PLAN TO SHARPEN YANKEE IN WATER

Will Straighten Fore Section of Candidate for Defense of America's Cup. BALLAST TO BE REMOVED

BOSTON, Feb. 8, 1934. -- An operation never before attempted on an America's Cup yacht is to be performed on the Yankee, pride of Boston four years ago. The record-holding racer with the full-bronzed hull definitely will make another bid for international defense honors, a syndicate having been organized to finance her second appearance.

WOMAN DONATES FUNDS FOR YANKEE

BOSTON, April 21, 1934. -- A woman is to aid in putting the America's Cup yacht Yankee in commission as a candidate for the honor of being selected to defend the historic trophy.

YANKEE LAUNCHED AT NEPONSET YARDS

BOSTON, May 3, 1934. -- The all-New England sloop Yankee slipped smoothly into the Neponset River today. Signs were propitious for the rain stopped and the mist rolled seaward when the big bronze boat went overboard.

ADAMS YACHT FOUND AT FAULT IN CRASH

NEWPORT, R.I., July 14, 1934. -- Not only was the America's Cup yacht Yankee disqualified in the race in which she was rammed by the Rainbow but in the notification to that effect sent to Charles Francis Adams, Yankee's skipper, the rules to avoid collisions were pointed out to him.

RAINBOW SUPERIOR, AN ANALYSIS SHOWS

Defender Took 16 Contests to 14 for the Yankee in America's Cup Trials.

September 9, 1934.-- With the American yacht Rainbow chosen defender of the America's Cup and scheduled to meet the English challenger Endeavour on Saturday, there still is an impression in the public mind in some quarters that Rainbow did not show a superiority over Yankee warranting her selection as defender.

1935

On April 25, 1935, Yankee sailed to England, racing Lambert's schooner Atlantic and winning by 17 hours. She raced in England against the British Class J yachts Endeavour, Velsheda, Candida, Astra and Shamrock V. She took eight first-place finishes in 32 races. Of the American Js, Yankee was the only one to sail in British waters.

 

1935 : RACES IN ENGLAND

Lambert, Owner of Vanitie, Buys The America's Cup Sloop Yankee; Plans to Race the Yacht Here or in English Waters -- Craft Will Be Rerigged, Probably With a Modern Steel Mast.

October 09, 1934.-- Gerard B. Lambert, who has owned and raced the America's Cup yacht Vanitie for several years, yesterday bought the sloop Yankee, which gave the defender Rainbow a close battle for the right to meet T.O.M. Sopwith's challenger Endeavour in the international match off Newport last month.

Yankee Gets Impressive Salute As She Sails for Racing Abroad; Whistles of Steamships, Freighters, Fishing and Other Craft Create Din in Boston Harbor When Sloop Heads for Open Sea -- Lambert's Atlantic Goes Along as Convoy.

BOSTON, April 25, 1935. -- With an east wind smack on her nose, the America's Cup yacht Yankee left today for England, taking her departure from Boston Lightship at 1 P.M.

Racing yacht Yankee sets sail for Europe

LAMBERT'S YANKEE ARRIVES AT COWES

PORTSMOUTH, England, May 13, 1935. -- Gerard B. Lambert's racing sloop Yankee was anchored in the Roads at Cowes tonight, having been towed the last few miles of her voyage from the United States by T.O.M. Sopwith's motor yacht Vita.

YANKEE TRIUMPHS; MISHAPS MAR RACE

First Race in British Waters Taken by Lambert's Yankee

SOUTHEND, England, June 6. -- Gerard B. Lambert's American yacht Yankee triumphed today in her first race in British waters, which was marred by mishap and tragedy.

YANKEE IS BEATEN BY BRITISH YACHTS

Velsheda and Shamrock V Outsail Yankee in Race for King's Challenge Cup;

DOVER, England, June 10. -- Gerard B. Lambert's yacht Yankee, competing in her second formal race in British waters, finished behind W.L. Stephenson's Velsheda and C.R. Fairey's Shamrock V today as the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club's regatta opened. The race was for the King's Silver Challenge Cup.

YANKEE AGAIN LOSES IN ENGLAND

Endeavour First in Class J Race; Lambert's American Sloop Goes Aground for a Time on Sand Bank in the Solent

YARMOUTH, Isle of Wight, June 21. -- Gerard B. Lambert's American sloop Yankee suffered her second defeat in English waters today when the Class J fleet was out in its full strength of seven yachts for the first time. T.O.M. Sopwith's America's Cup challenger Endeavour took first place, H.A. Andreae's Candida was second and W.L. Stephenson's Velsheda third.

ENDEAVOUR TAKES RAGE IN ENGLAND

Lambert's Yankee Finishes Far Back in 38-Mile Yacht Race Won by Endeavour

LYMINGTON, England, June 22. -- For the second day in succession Gerard B. Lambert's Yankee trailed when the Class J fleet again raced in its full strength of seven yachts in the Lymington Yacht Club regatta today.

ENDEAVOUR VICTOR, WITH YANKEE FIFTH

America's Cup Challenger Has Big Margin Over Velsheda in Regatta Off Fowey.

FOWEY, England, June 27. -- Gerard B. Lambert's Yankee again was defeated today when the America's Cup challenger Endeavour, with her owner, T.O.M. Sopwith, at the helm, beat six other great cutters by nearly seven minutes in the regatta of the Royal Fowey Yacht Club, of which Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch is commodore.

Yankee Trails English Yachts as Astra, Grounded Before Start, Sails to Victory

FALMOUTH, England June 28 -- The American boat Yankee, owned by Gerard B. Lambert, had another disappointment today, finishing last in the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club's regatta, Hugh Paul's trim, speedy Astra winning very easily.

YANKEE TRIUMPHS IN FALMOUTH RACE

Lambert's Yacht Shows Way to Candida, With Shamrock Third, Endeavour Next.

LONDON, June 29. -- Gerard B. Lambert's Yankee finally won a race from T.O.M. Sopwith's Endeavour today after a long and discouraging series of defeats in British waters.

Yankee Beats Five British Boats In 36-Mile Contest at Plymouth

Lambert's Yacht Gets Into Stride for First Time Since She Entered Competition in English Waters and Leads by Nearly Nine Minutes at End -- Astra Second, Velsheda Next.

PLYMOUTH, England, July 3. -- Gerard B. Lambert's Yankee today really got into her stride for the first time since she has been racing against the British Class J yachts and scored a fine victory in the Port of Plymouth's annual regatta.

LAMBERT'S YANKEE BEATS ENDEAVOUR

Records Second Victory in Row at Plymouth by a Minute and 33 Seconds.

PLYMOUTH, England, July 4. -- The American yacht Yankee won her second race in succession today beating T.O.M. Sopwith's Endeavour by one minute and thirty-three seconds over a thirty-six-mile course in the Royal Western Yacht Club's regatta.

LAMBERT'S YANKEE WINS FINAL RACE AT LE HAVRE

LE HAVRE, France, July 13. -- Gerard B. Lambert's sloop Yankee today won the final race for the Count of Paris Cup...

YANKEE CAPTURES RACE IN THE SOLENT

Lambert at Helm as Yankee Shows Way in Royal Victoria Yacht Club Regatta

RYDE, Isle of Wight, July 29. -- Steered by her owner, Gerard B. Lambert, Yankee scored her first victory in The Solent today in the Royal Victoria Yacht Club's regatta.

ENDEAVOUR FIRST IN CLASS J RACE

Sopwith's Yacht Scores Over Short Course in Light Wind -- Yankee an Hour Astern.

RYDE, Isle of Wight, July 30. -In almost a flat calm T.O.M. Sopwith's Endeavour today sailed to victory in the Royal Victoria Yacht Club's international Gold Cup race, in which all eight of the Class J yachts competed.

ENDEAVOR VICTOR; YANKEE IS FOURTH

Sopwith's Yacht Leads Fleet in Solent Race, With Astra Second, Shamrock Third.

RYDE, Isle of Wight, Aug. 1. -- King George again was aboard his cutter Britannia in the Royal Thames Yacht Club's race for the big yachts today. T.O.M. Sopwith's Endeavour won, beating Astra, the second boat, by about five minutes.

YACHT ASTRA TAKES SILVER JUBILEE CUP

Yankee Is First Home, but Paul's Craft Saves Time to Clinch Prized Trophy.

COWES, Isle of Wight, Aug. 8. -- Gerard B. Lambert's Yankee crossed the line first in an exciting finish of the race for big yachts today, although Hugh Paul's smaller Astra, three minutes behind, won on her time allowance, thereby securing the coveted Silver Jubilee Cup for the most points scored during the three days' racing.

VELSHEDA DEFEATS YANKEE OFF COWES

August 11, 1935.-- Lambert's sloop loses by a slight margin in final contest of Regatta.

YANKEE DEFEATED

August 13, 1935.--Gerard B. Lambert's American sloop Yankee defeated to 3K. Sopwith's Endeavour and four other big yachts in the City of Portsmouth regatta today. The course ...

YACHT VELSHEDA WINNER - YANKEE FINISHES FOURTH

August 22, 1935.-- Gerard B. Lambert's Boston sloop Yankee finished fourth, today in the Paignton regatta. The race was scheduled for thirty-nine miles, but was stopped at the end ...

ENDEAVOUR LEADS FLEET

Takes Race in England as Yankee Is Third on Corrected Time.

August 24, 1935.-- Gerard Lambert's Yankee, the American competitor, finished be hing Endeavour, but Astra was of- ficially awarded second place be-I cause of a time allowance.

VELSHEDA IS HOME FIRST

Yankee Fails to Finish in Race for Class J Yachts.

August 25, 1935 - VELSHEDA won the Class J race of the Brixham Torbay regatta today over a course which had been suggested by Gerard Lambert of New York, whose Yankee failed to ...

YANKEE LEADS HOME FIVE BRITISH YACHTS

Lambert Sails Boat to Victory Over Velsheda and Endeavour in Torbay Regatta.

TORQUAY, England, Aug. 27. -Yankee defeated five British Class J yachts in the Torbay Royal Regatta today. In a close finish, with Owner Gerard B. Lambert at the helm, Yankee beat Velsheda, which was second, by 1 minute 45 seconds and Endeavour, which was third, by 2 minutes 55 seconds.

America's Cup. Start of J Class race with Yankee JUS2 on far right.

YACHT YANKEE IS FOURTH.

Astra First Home in Forty-Mile Race at Torquay.

TORQUAY, England, Aug. 28 (AP). --Astra finished first and the American yacht Yankee fourth in a forty-mile race in the Torbay Royal Yacht Club regatta today.

LAMBERT'S YANKEE DISMASTED IN RACE

U.S. Boat, Ahead in the Final of English Season, Is Badly Damaged During Squall.

DARTMOUTH, England, Aug. 31. -- The American racing yacht Yankee, competing in the last race of the English yachting season under the colors of Gerard B. Lambert of New York and Boston, was badly damaged today when she was dismasted during a heavy squall.

LAMBERT ENJOYED YACHTING ABROAD

Owner of Sloop Yankee Says Racing in British Waters Was the Keenest of His Life.

September 26, 1935 -Gerard B. Lambert, owner of the racing yacht Yankee, and the first skipper to take a large single-sticker to British waters in more than two decades, was back at his desk at 250 Park Avenue yesterday "trying to recover from the marvelous reception" accorded him abroad.

LAMBERT'S YANKEE DEPARTS FOR HOME

Yacht Sails From Gosport Amid Blasts of Sirens From Craft in the Harbor. WILL RETURN UNESCORTED Crew on America's Cup Class Sloop Hopes to Make the Crossing in 21 Days.

PORTSMOUTH, England, April 11. -- In a bleak northeast wind and a choppy sea, Gerard B. Lambert's America's Cup class sloop Yankee left her moorings off Gosport today to return unescorted to the United States.

YANKEE ARRIVES IN BOSTON HARBOR. RODE OUT SEVERE GALE

Lambert's Yankee Receives Noisy Welcome as She Ends Second Atlantic Trip; Sloop Finishes Voyage From England -- Crosses Atlantic in 22 Days 6 Hours. Made Best Runs at Start and End of Trip -- Goes to Lawley's for Fitting Out.

BOSTON, May 4. -- Sea-scarred but whole, Yankee, proud conqueror of the western ocean, ended her second Atlantic crossing at the Lawley yard in Neponset at 6:15 o'clock tonight. The famous Class J sloop, owned by Gerard B. Lambert, came up the harbor amid a noisy din of saluting, a year and eight days from the date on which she began her European venture last April.

1937

Frank Paine had designed three Super Js for the 1937 America’s Cup, most probably for Mr. Lambert. But Yankee revamped secretly for defense trials in 1937, tested single-headed rig, mast step moved forward, lowered center of ballast, larger mainsail.

Undefeated Ranger was selected to defend America's Cup against Endeavour II. Yankee can console after the Cup when she beats Ranger on the first run of the New York Yacht Club cruise. Endeavour only had succeeded this performance.

YANKEE REVAMPED FOR DEFENSE TESTS

Lambert's Yacht to Have a Novel Rig, Changed Hull in America's Cup Trials BRONZE KEEL LENGTHENED Work Done Secretly in Fall- Displacement to Be Same as Endeavour II's - Yacht Now at Neponset Less Width to Ranger Steel Ribs for Mast.

March 10, 1937.-- Ranger, the new America's Cup yacht being built for Harold S. Vanderbilt as the prospective defender to meet T. O. M. Sopwith's Endeavour II in the international match starting off Newport on July 31, is to have a real rival for that honor.

YANKEE HAS TRIAL IN NEW SLOOP BIG

Performs Well in First Spin Using Single Headsail With a Huge Jib.

April 16, 1937-- The 1937 campaign for the defense of the America's Cup really got under way today when Commodore Gerard B. Lambert's Yankee had her first the spin on Massachusetts Bay under the new sloop rig which Frank C. Paine designed for the Marblehead boat this Winter to make her a real contender against the new Ranger and Rainbow 1934 defender.

Lambert's Yankee Takes First Run of N. Y. Y. C. Cruise, With Ranger Runner-Up. DEFENDER TRAILS FOR SECOND TIME

Vanderbilt's Ranger Is 5:02 Behind Yankee Over 371/2 Miles-Rainbow 3d ENDEAVOURS ALSO IN RACE Cup Challenger Home Fifth and Last on New London-Newport Cruise

August 18, 1937.-- There was joy up in Boston town tonight-the mighty Ranger struck out. On the first run of the New York Yacht Club cruise, that today from New London here, the America's Cup defender was pitched down to her second defeat, and by none other than the veteran Yankee, which pulled a-sweeping curve on her.

1941

By the end of 1941, all the US yachts, which had been laid up were scrapped for their metal, with the last two being Yankee and Ranger. None survived. Yankee’s owner Gerard Lambert allegedly donated her scrap money from the yacht to Queen Mary to be used at her discretion in the London Hospital, in memory of the courtesies shown to Yankee by King George and the Queen herself.

3 YACHTS DONATED TO AID U.S., BRITAIN - YANKEE WILL BE JUNKED

G.B. Lambert Gives Famous Schooner Atlantic and Motor Tender to Coast Guard - $10,000 Proceeds by Yankee Will Be Gift to England to Help Buy a Spitfire Fighter Plane.

April 1, 1941.-- Gerard B. Lambert, rear commodore of the New York Yacht Club, yesterday gave a small-sized navy to the cause of national defense and the aid of Britain.

 

2010 : The revival

Holland Jachtbouw commissioned to build new J Class, Yankee J-H3

Simon Dierdorp, syndicate chief, will commission Holland Jachtbouw in Netherlands to build the new J Class 37.5m Yankee J-H3. Yankee was first designed in 1930 and was a three-time challenger in the preliminary rounds to defend the America’s Cup.

Yankee was originally designed by Frank C. Paine and commissioned by John S. Lawrence and Chandler Hovey, before being sold to Gerard Lambert. Now, she is being re-designed by Dykstra and Partners in accordance with current J-class standards, ready to be be built in their state-of-the-art production hall (70 x 20 m) with the hull due for delivery in 2011. Holland Jachtbouw is also currently building the J-Class yacht Rainbow.

In August 2010, the syndicate commissioned co redesign Yankee in accordance with the original design of Frank C. Paine, but as an aluminium yacht with carbon mast, rigging and 3-DL sails. Yankee is to be constructed in accordance with Lloyds A1 and MCA to allow her to be used for both racing and chartering.

Building the hull will commence October 2010 at Bloemsma Aluminiumbouw in Makkum (NED).

A unique feature will be Yankee‘s propulsion, with a main engine of 325 kW, a 50 kW generator and a 32 kW auxiliary generator. The interior design is based on a permanent crew of seven and, for racing purposes, accommodation in pipe cots for another 21 crew members. Yankee will be launched early 2012 and will be ready to take part in the J-Class regattas in the UK June and July 2012.