1920 America's Cup
Encyclopedia
The 1920 America's Cup
was the 13th challenge for the Cup and the first since 1903. It took place on the New York City
harbor and consisted of a "best of five" series of races between the defender Resolute
, entered by a syndicate of New York Yacht Club
members headed by Henry Walters
, and Shamrock IV
, the fourth in Sir Thomas Liptons line of Cup challengers.
Despite losing the second race and becoming disabled in the first, Resolute won the final three races and in doing so lifted the Cup on behalf of the NYYC, continuing the clubs unbroken record of defending the America's Cup.
The 1920 America's Cup was originally scheduled to take place in 1914 but was postponed following the outbreak of World War I
. The 13th Cup challenge was the last to take place in New York, and the first held under the Universal Rule
of measurement.
tea company, attempted to persuade the NYYC to adopt new rules of measurement for America's Cup yachts that would reduce their cost, which was widely seen to be a result of the Seawanhaka rule then used by the club. Despite the NYYC having adopted the new Universal Rule in 1903, formulated by Nathaniel Herreshoff, for its own races, it was reluctant to allow its use for America's Cup races and refused several challenges issued by Lipton until finally accepting in 1913.
competed against Vanitie
, and Resolute won setting a course record. The races were suspended as World War I
broke out and did not resume until 1920, at which point Resolute again secured her place as defender in trials against Vanitie.
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
was the 13th challenge for the Cup and the first since 1903. It took place on the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
harbor and consisted of a "best of five" series of races between the defender Resolute
Resolute (yacht)
Resolute was a yacht designed and built by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff for a syndicate of New York Yacht Club members headed by Henry Walters to contend the 1914 America's Cup...
, entered by a syndicate of New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
members headed by Henry Walters
Henry Walters
Henry Walters was president of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad until he retired in 1902. He was founder of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.-Biography:...
, and Shamrock IV
Shamrock IV
Shamrock IV was a yacht owned by Sir Thomas Lipton and designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson. She was the unsuccessful challenger in the 1920 America's Cup....
, the fourth in Sir Thomas Liptons line of Cup challengers.
Despite losing the second race and becoming disabled in the first, Resolute won the final three races and in doing so lifted the Cup on behalf of the NYYC, continuing the clubs unbroken record of defending the America's Cup.
The 1920 America's Cup was originally scheduled to take place in 1914 but was postponed following the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The 13th Cup challenge was the last to take place in New York, and the first held under the Universal Rule
Universal Rule
The Universal Rule determined a yachts eligibility to race in the America's Cup from 1914 to 1937. Ships built according to the rule reached their peak in the large J-class yachts....
of measurement.
Lipton challenges a fourth time
Following his unsuccessful Cup challenge in 1903 Sir Thomas Lipton, founder of the LiptonLipton
Lipton is a brand of tea currently owned by Unilever.-History of Lipton Tea:Lipton was created at the end of the 19th century by a grocer, Sir Thomas Lipton, in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1893, he established the Thomas J. Lipton Co., a tea packing company with its headquarters and factory in Hobo ken,...
tea company, attempted to persuade the NYYC to adopt new rules of measurement for America's Cup yachts that would reduce their cost, which was widely seen to be a result of the Seawanhaka rule then used by the club. Despite the NYYC having adopted the new Universal Rule in 1903, formulated by Nathaniel Herreshoff, for its own races, it was reluctant to allow its use for America's Cup races and refused several challenges issued by Lipton until finally accepting in 1913.
Trials
In the defender selection trials of 1914 ResoluteResolute (yacht)
Resolute was a yacht designed and built by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff for a syndicate of New York Yacht Club members headed by Henry Walters to contend the 1914 America's Cup...
competed against Vanitie
Vanitie
Vanitie was a yacht owned by Alexander Smith Cochran that was selected to take part in selection trials for the America's Cup in 1914 against Sir Thomas Lipton's yacht Shamrock IV.-History:...
, and Resolute won setting a course record. The races were suspended as World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out and did not resume until 1920, at which point Resolute again secured her place as defender in trials against Vanitie.