Yacht America,circa 1910. This yacht,a type known as a gaff schooner,is famous for being the first winner of a sailing trophy that was renamed the America's Cup in its honour. 30 metres long,it was laid down in November 1850,launched in May 1851,and won the cup in August 1851. Later renamed,the ship was used by Confederate forces in the US Civil War,and scuttled in 1862. Raised by Union forces and restored to the name America,it was later used again for racing in the 1880s. Here it has a different set of sails to those used in the 1880s,including a fisherman's staysail. The ship later fell into disrepair,and was scrapped in 1945 |