The J-class yacht Ranger successfully defended the 1937 America's Cup, defeating the British challenger Endeavour II 4-0 at Newport, Rhode Island. It was the last time J-class yachts would race for the America's Cup.
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Harold Stirling Vanderbilt funded construction of Ranger, and she was launched on May 11, 1937. She was designed by Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens, and constructed by Bath Iron Works. Stephens would credit Burgess with actually designing Ranger, but the radical departure from conventional J-class design was more likely attributable to Stephens himself. Geerd Hendel, Burgess's chief draftsman, also had a hand in drawing many of the plans.
Ranger was constructed according to the Universal Rule that constrained the various dimensions of racing yachts, such as sail area and length. Often referred to as the "super J"[1], Ranger received a rating of 76, the maximum allowed while still adhering to the Universal Rule.
Ranger was scrapped by 1941[2] or 1946[1] - sources differ.
Comparison of 87–90 feet (27–27 m) America's Cup contenders:
| Year | LOA | LWL | Sail Area | Mast height | Displacement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance | 1903 | 43.89 m (144.0 ft) | 27.43 m (90.0 ft) | 1,501 m2 (16,160 sq ft) | 67.05 m (220.0 ft) | 189 tons |
| Ranger | 1937 | 41.15 m (135.0 ft) | 26.51 m (87.0 ft) | 701 m2 (7,550 sq ft) | 46.98 m (154.1 ft) | 166 tons |
| KZ1 | 1988 | 36.57 m (120.0 ft) | 27.43 m (90.0 ft) | 627 m2 (6,750 sq ft) | 46.78 m (153.5 ft) | 39 tons |
| USA-17 | 2010 | 34.5 m (113 ft) | 27.43 m (90.0 ft) | 1,270 m2 (13,700 sq ft) | 68 m (223 ft) | 18 tons |
Construction of a replica of Ranger was started at Danish Yacht Boatyard in early 2002 and was completed in late December 2003.[4] The original designs were used as the basis for the new boat but were updated to conform to the latest safety regulations and the requirement of the owner to cross oceans in comfort.