YACHTSHIP

Built from high grade steel – flushed rivet plating, RANGER was launched on 11th May 1937. Having nearly lost the 1934 America's Cup race to the Royal Yacht Club, Harold Vanderbilt took special pains to build a faster boat next time around. She was the Ranger, and dominated the 1937 Cup Season. The Ranger was designed by Sterling Burgess together with the Stephens brothers, who later became famous for their many S&S yacht designs. A typical J-yacht crew included some 26 professionals. The Ranger was all about racing, huge white sails, a flush deck with hardly any built structures, and beautiful lines. Vanderbilt personally financed the whole project, estimated at the time at over half a millon dollars.

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”.