Shamrock V was built in 1930 for Sir Thomas Lipton's fifth and last America's Cup challenge. Designed by Nicholson, she was the first British yacht to be built to the new J Class Rule and is the only remaining J to have been built in wood. After launch she was continually upgraded with changes to hull shape and rudder. The rig was also modified to create the most effective racing sail plan but she was no match for the faster US design “Enterprise”.

Dimension: L70 x W14 x H75 (cm) TERMS AND CONDITIONS • Delivery: EXW, FOB Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam • Payment: T/T 30-50% (deposit upon order confirmation, balance before Bill of Lading) • Standard lead time: 10-60 days from deposit … Read More

America which was modeled on the state-of-the-art pilot ships of New York astonished people from the moment she arrived in Europe. Her reversed bow, like a Clipper-ship, her tin plating, and her sails of vertical layers of cotton, laced to the masts, had never been seen before.

Designed by Ben Lexcen, built by Stephan Ward, owned by Alan Bond and helmed by John Bertrand, the Australia II featured an innovative winged keel design developed by Lexcen. This helped to make it very fast and maneuverable in many conditions and was the most notable and controversial design feature of the boat. During the summer of 1983, as selection trials took place for the Cup defense that autumn, it was unclear whether the keel design was legal within the strict rules governing the 12-meter class.

Questions also surrounded the Dutch involvement in the design of the keel, which under the rules had to be designed by an Australian. The keel design was eventually confirmed as legal while the keel origin controversy remains unanswered. Despite being the first 12-meter to sport the new design, Australia II was not the first boat to have a winged keel, though her success did much to make the concept popular.