Courageous (yacht)
Encyclopedia
Courageous is a 12-metre class
yacht. It was the third boat to win the America's Cup
twice, in 1974 and 1977, after Intrepid
in 1967 and 1970, and Columbia
in 1899 and 1901. All three of these boats won for the NYYC and thus the United States
. Courageous was the first all aluminum hulled 12-metre class yacht.
Courageous successfully defended the America's Cup
for the USA in 1974 with Ted Hood
at the helm. After the 1974 cup, Hood built a new boat which he thought was faster than Courageous, and sold Courageous to Ted Turner
. Turner won the 1977 America's Cup defender trials in Courageous, beating Ted Hood
in the process, and then went on to successfully defend the America's Cup later that year.
When preparing Courageous for the 1977 America's Cup, Courageous was re-measured for compliance with the 12-metre class
rule. It was discovered that she was lighter than the weight declared in her original racing certificate for the 1974 America's Cup
. Less weight typically means a faster performance in lighter winds and a slower performance in stronger winds. If Courageous had been found to be under weight before the competition in 1974 then the designers would have had to make adjustments to sail area, the waterline length, or other attributes to make the design comply with the 12-metre rule. If Courageous was found to be underweight during the event she would have been disqualified. It is only conjecture what effect this oversight had on the result of the 1974 event.
Both Courageous and Intrepid are still sailing and racing today in Newport, Rhode Island
. Intrepid is available for charter whereas Courageous is privately owned.
12-metre class
The 12 Metre Class is a rating class for racing boats designed to the International rule. It enables fair competition between boats that rate in the class whilst retaining the freedom to experiment with the details of their designs. The first 12 Metres were built in 1907. The 12 Metre Class was...
yacht. It was the third boat to win the America's Cup
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...
twice, in 1974 and 1977, after Intrepid
Intrepid (yacht)
The Intrepid is a 12-metre class yacht which won the America's Cup in 1967 and again in 1970.-Design:Intrepid was designed by Olin Stephens, and was built of double-planked mahogany on white oak frames. She featured important innovations both above and below the waterline. The rudder was separated...
in 1967 and 1970, and Columbia
Columbia (1899 yacht)
Columbia was the defender of the tenth America's Cup race in 1899 against British challenger Shamrock as well as the defender of the eleventh America's Cup race in 1901 against British challenger, Shamrock II...
in 1899 and 1901. All three of these boats won for the NYYC and thus the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Courageous was the first all aluminum hulled 12-metre class yacht.
Courageous successfully defended the America's Cup
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...
for the USA in 1974 with Ted Hood
Ted Hood
Frederick E. "Ted" Hood is a distinguished American Yachtsman and Naval Architect. He started the company in Marblehead, Massachusetts which makes sails...
at the helm. After the 1974 cup, Hood built a new boat which he thought was faster than Courageous, and sold Courageous to Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
. Turner won the 1977 America's Cup defender trials in Courageous, beating Ted Hood
Ted Hood
Frederick E. "Ted" Hood is a distinguished American Yachtsman and Naval Architect. He started the company in Marblehead, Massachusetts which makes sails...
in the process, and then went on to successfully defend the America's Cup later that year.
When preparing Courageous for the 1977 America's Cup, Courageous was re-measured for compliance with the 12-metre class
12-metre class
The 12 Metre Class is a rating class for racing boats designed to the International rule. It enables fair competition between boats that rate in the class whilst retaining the freedom to experiment with the details of their designs. The first 12 Metres were built in 1907. The 12 Metre Class was...
rule. It was discovered that she was lighter than the weight declared in her original racing certificate for the 1974 America's Cup
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...
. Less weight typically means a faster performance in lighter winds and a slower performance in stronger winds. If Courageous had been found to be under weight before the competition in 1974 then the designers would have had to make adjustments to sail area, the waterline length, or other attributes to make the design comply with the 12-metre rule. If Courageous was found to be underweight during the event she would have been disqualified. It is only conjecture what effect this oversight had on the result of the 1974 event.
Both Courageous and Intrepid are still sailing and racing today in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. Intrepid is available for charter whereas Courageous is privately owned.