27" H x 4" W x 20" L (1:78 scale)
This newly designed Limited Edition museum-quality scale replica Endeavour yacht is offered exclusively by Handcrafted Model Ships, and includes a numbered Certificate of Authenticity signed by HMS Founder and Master Builder Richard Norris, as only 250 will ever be made. Accurate in almost every detail to the original Endeavour sailboat
The Limited Edition Endeavour sailboats quality, craftsmanship and accuracy is better than all other model sailboats. Features include:
- Additional and higher-quality deck details
- Authentic cloth British flag has been added
- Additional deck planks have been added and stained to match the actual Endeavour yacht
- Additional and higher-quality solid brass metal railings and cleats have been added
- Upgraded, accurately scaled solid metal ship wheel has been added
- Additional upgraded structures on the deck have been added, including intricately painted windows
- The hull is meticulously painted the actual colors of the original Endeavour America's Cup yacht. Look closely on the blue and red hull and you can see the individual planks and wood grain
- Higher-quality sails with additional rigging: The sails are slightly starched to hold their shape and a higher quality and higher thread-count material is used, similar to that of the actual Endeavour yacht at the time it sailed. We offer three unique sail materials that are matched to the different eras of model yachts we offer. Also, additional rigging lines have been added to be more true to the actual Endeavour yacht
HISTORY
Endeavour, a 130-foot J Class sloop, was commissioned by Sir T.O.M. Sopwith and built by Camper & Nicholson at Gosport England to challenge for the America's Cup in 1934. Having prepared his campaign in Shamrock V, Sopwith was keen to ensure that this yacht was the most advanced design possible. With his experience designing aircraft Sopwith applied aviation technology toEndeavour's rig and winches and spared nothing to make her the finest vessel of her day. From launching in 1934 shecontinued her preparation by competing against Shamrock V (then owned by Sir Richard Fairey) and the newly launched Velsheda (owned by W.L Stephenson). She swept through the British racing fleet and into the hearts of yachtsmen the world around, winning many races in her first season. Like many before her, Endeavour did not win the Cup but she came closer to doing so than any other challenger.
Endeavour pioneered the development of the Quadrilateral genoa, a two clewed headsail offering immense sail area and power, and still used on J Class yachts racing today. She also had a larger and better designed spinnaker but Sopwith was let down by poor crewing. Just prior to departure for the USA, his professional crew went on strike for more money and Sopwith was forced to round up keen amateur sailors, who had the enthusiasm but not the experience. Afterwards, she returned to England to dominate the British racing scene until 1938 when she was laid up prior to the war.
Over the next 46 years, Endeavour passed through many hands, her fate often hanging by a thread. Among other indignities, she was sold to a scrap merchant in 1947 only to be saved by another buyer hours before her demolition was due to begin. In the seventies, she sank in the Medina River in Cowes. Again at the eleventh hour, she was bought for ten pounds sterling by two carpenters who patched the holes in her hull with plastic bags and got her afloat again. In the early eighties, Endeavour sat in an abandoned seaplane base in southern England. She was a complete wreck, a rusting and forlorn hulk with no keel, rudder, ballast or interior.
REBUILD
In 1984 American yachtswoman Elizabeth Meyer bought Endeavour and undertook a five year rebuild. Since the hull was too fragile to be moved and was miles away from any boatyard, Meyer had a building constructed over the boat and hired welders to restore the hull. Endeavour's missing keel and ballast were rebuilt, the steel frames and hull plating repaired and replaced where necessary, and a new rudder fabricated. The newly seaworthy hull was launched and towed to Holland where it was put on a barge and transported to the Royal Huisman Shipyard. There, the mast, boom and rigging were designed and built, the engine, generator and mechanical systems installed and the interior joinery completed. All told, an inconceivable amount of work, love and agony went into achieving Endeavour's present level of perfection. Endeavour sailed again, on June 22, 1989, for the first time in 52 years.
Between 1989 and 1999 Endeavour cruised extensively and competed in numerous races, creating a wonderful spectacle In April 1999, history repeated itself when she was joined by Shamrock V and Velsheda to compete in the Antigua Classics Regatta, bringing in a new era of J Class sailing a sight not seen in over 60 years.
MODERN RACING
American, L. Dennis Kozlowski stated in 2000 "No one truly owns Endeavour, she's a part of yachting History, I'm delighted to be the current caretaker."
Endeavour, Velsheda and Shamrock raced together at the J Class Regatta for the first time in UK waters after more than 65 years. Endeavour won both regattas after close racing between the yachts.
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