Columbia Model Racing Yacht
Designed by Olin Stephens, the magnificent sailing ship Columbia is the illustrious
winner of the 1958 America’s Cup. Olin’s benevolently and modestly
responded to the boats triumphant victory over the British Challenger Sceptre;
“I feel Columbia was the better boat of the two. But I think the difference
was magnified by the amount of competition we got from the other boats in the
defender trials; Columbia’s performance would not have been anything like
as outstanding if we had not had to beat those other boats.” Briggs Cunningham
served as the ingenious skipper of the Columbia that magnificent racing day,
bringing her a glorious victory that would be remembered in the hearts of yacht
racing fans for all time.
The crew of the Sceptre was utterly overwhelmed by the all-encompassing abilities,
composition and crew of the Columbia. The Sceptre’s crew was so completely
overtaken, they did not even put up much of a fight in this 17th match of the
America’s Cup.
The Columbia continued to remain a contender in the America’s Cup defence
trial series in 1962, 1964 and 1967. She was defeated as a finalist in 1967
by Intrepid and in 1974 served as her trial horse.
Columbia can still be seen today, sailing as a charter yacht from her beloved
homeport of Newport, Rhode Island.
Click
on image above to view!
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