Istria (yacht)

Istria was a 15-metre class racing yacht designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson and built at the Camper & Nicholsons yard in 1912. She was the first yacht in the world with a lightweight, laminated wood construction and the first to feature a marconi topmast.[1]

History

She was designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson and built for Charles C. Allom in 1912. In her first season she won twenty-nine out of thirty-one starts in European waters.[2] It was intended that the boat competed as a challenger for the 1914 America's Cup.[3] During the trials, World War I started and the next competition was the 1920 America's Cup.[4]

References

  1. ^ John Leather (2001). The Gaff Rig Handbook: History, Design, Techniques, Developments. WoodenBoat Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=vunvLutTE7QC&pg=PA113&dq=istria. 
  2. ^ "Allom Won't Challenge". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F50814F93A5D13738DDDAF0994DB405B838DF1D3. Retrieved 2010-12-12. "Mr. Allom is very much interested in his yacht, Istria, which won twenty-nine out of thirty-one starts in European waters last year. ..." 
  3. ^ "Allom Casting His Eyes Toward American's Cup". Baltimore Sun. March 16, 1913. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1868829462.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+16,+1913&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=ALLOM+CASTING+HIS+EYES+TOWARD+AMERICAN'S+CUP&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2010-12-13. "In connection with reports that some other British yachtsman than Sir Thomas Lipton is a prospective challenger for the America's cup it develops that at least one such Englishman with eyes on the cup is Charles C. Allom, owner of the fast 15-metre cutter Istria, which has made phenomenal..." 
  4. ^ "First Yacht Race For America's Cup Starts, Noon Today. Shamrock Will Defy the Resolute Over 30-Mile CourseOff Sandy Hook. Lipton's Challenger, Because of Greater Sail Area, Is Forced to Make Record Concession. Interest Grows in First Contests Since 1903, and Hotels Report Influx of Enthusiasts. Shamrock Under Big Handicap. Betting Getting Liveller. The Sight-Seeing Fleet" (PDF). New York Times. July 15, 1920. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F20C11FF3A5511738DDDAC0994DF405B808EF1D3. Retrieved 2010-10-15. "The United States and England will clash today for the first time in seventeen years for the yachting supremacy of the world when Resolute and Shamrock IV. will flash across the line at the Ambrose Light Vessel at 12 o'clock noon, New York time. At that hour the first of the present series of races for the America's Cup will be on."