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1937 Series

Harold Vanderbilt decided to build a new boat for the 1937 America’s Cup. He commissioned William Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens to design and build a few models which were tested in the towing tanks of the “Stephens Institute of Technology “ in Hoboken. The fastest model would then be built.

This was to be Ranger.

Ranger’s waterline was 87 feet, five foot more than Rainbow. To be able to build the boat, there still was a financial depression in the USA, Rainbow was sold. But Vanderbilt did not sell the mast, the rigging, sails and winches, to these could be used on Ranger.

Thomas Sopwith, who lost in 1934, had a new boat built for the 1937 series; Endeavour II. Ranger, helmed by Mike Vanderbilt, won the defense trials against Yankee and Rainbow and was to defend the Cup against Endeavour II.

Ranger won and the Cup went to the New York Yacht Club for what was to be a very long time.

This was the last America’s Cup sailed in J-class boats.

In 1938 a race was sailed with a number of J-class boats.

Ranger was scrapped in 1941, as were Yankee and Rainbow. The English J’s were laid up. The end of the J-class seemed near. Was the class to become extinct?