In 1851 the schooner America won the British '100 Guinea' regatta, beginning the longest winning streak in organized racing.
America's victory was so overwhelming, that the report informing Queen Victoria was simply America first, Your Majesty. There is no second.
The event then became known as the America's Cup, still the most important regatta in the world.
Laid up in a shed during WWII, the once proud America was crushed to splinters in 1942 when a heavy load of spring snow collapsed the shed roof.
Email recieved:
I noticed on your WebPages under the listing of Favorite boats, You did`nt have any pics of the America or mentioned that the ol`gal has been recreated , I saw her in Key West on 1/97. The man that had her built is a retired restaurant owner. The story I got from one of the crew is that he had no one to leave his wealth to so he decided to build this boat and leave her to all of us to enjoy. Her exterior is done original from the dark green painted cypress hull to the very large wrenches on her gunnels. The inside however is a little more up to date with her twin John Deere diesel engines and four climate controlled state rooms. All in all she will still send Goosebumps up and down your spine. Fellow Sailor , Allen Shealy in South Carolina
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