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120 Years Ago Today  Sep 12, 23:20

deadline6On 12 September 1886 the NYYC successfully defended the America's Cup for the sixth time ("AC 6") when their yacht Mayflower defeated Britain’s Galatea in the second match of their first-to-win-two series. Mayflower's first win had come five days earlier on 7 September.

Mayflower was 100' and had a broad beam and shallow draft that was referred to as a "skimming dish."

Mayflower was designed by Edward Burgess who had also designed Puritan which had successfully defended the Cup the previous year against Britain's Genesta, 2-0. A Burgess yacht also won again in 1887 when his Volunteer defeated the Scottish entry Thistle 2-0.

According to historian A.J. Peluso, "In September 1886 newspapers ran breathless accounts of the latest America's Cup challenge. Like all others, before and after, they were high-stakes yacht races: America against the Empire. The challenge and the positive patriotic results became validating symbols of national pride, pride in which all could partake, whatever one's 'station'.... Galatea's loser-owner Lieutenant William Henn (Royal Navy, retired) and his wife were unbowed. They stayed in America for a year, entertained by the gracious winners."

N.B. Running the America's Cup in successive years is not without precedent.


Mayflower-AC61_bmwPreview
Mayflower (foreground) defeating Galatea on 7 September 1886 in the first of their two AC 6 matches, in an etching by Currier & Ives.