THE AMERICA'S CUP RACES 1964

[Music] An old rivalry extending over 113 years was revived in the 1964 races for the America's Cup. Again, it was successfully defended. [Music] [Applause] and 12 m yachts were built to meet the British challenge. Three older boats also raced in the trials to pick a defender. Constellation won the trials then trounced the challenger. She was sailed by Eric Ritter skipper and Bob Bevere helmsman for the first time. Challenger trials were sailed in this country. The Royal 10's yacht club picked sovereign sailed by Peter Scott. The famous old cup was won from the British by the schooner America in 1851. Sir Thomas Lipton challenged five times himself, more than anyone else. He came the closest to lifting the cup with Shamrock 4 in 1920. Sir Thomas, a fine sportsman, took many important trophies, but never the America's Cup, the one he cherished most. Liptton's beautiful Shamrock 5 was beaten by Vanderbilt's Enterprise. In these rare scenes, Sir Richard Ferry sailed the last of the Shamrocks in the 30s. From Weimoth, England, Sovereign set out for early practice. She was designed as an improvement on Scepter, the loser in the 1958 races. Sovereign's owner Tony Bdon had recruited an eager and able crew. Meanwhile, Kurua 5 was launched in Scotland. [Music] Thank you very much. In Glasgow, Kurawa was lifted onto a lorry for the overland hall to Southampton. In the villages, this 70 ft sailboat was a stopper for the traffic and bystanders alike. The route zigzagged all over Scotland and England to avoid low bridges. It took 11 days in all. There was some rough going through the trees. It was a close call here with only inches to spare. [Music] Then happily back in the water again. In New York, Olan Stevens drew up several new hull designs. A model of each one was tested in the towing tank. Thorough design testing fortune was a big factor in her superiority. In the mold loft, the lines for each frame were laid out full size. Frames were laminated and set up on the keel. Conniey's hull was built to withstand tremendous stresses in rough seas. It was all hand work. There's no assembly line or giant presses to stamp out a 12 m yacht. With the shutter plank in place and the hull intact, the traditional beer party was on. [Music] Then back to work. The paint went on in a hurry to make the launching date. The constellation syndicate was headed by yachtsman Walter Gubelman and Eric Ritter, whose wives did the christristening. I christened a constellation. [Applause] Designer Stevens reported to Googleman and Ritter that she was floating just about right. Well, that's encouraging. You like that, don't you, Eric? Well, uh uh I like the whole thing. The Yankee sails seem to be better than the British. A good main or genua jib will hold its shape even after weeks of heavy weather. The nylon spers are carried sailing downwind. Constellation stretched her wings in tuneup races against Nurius. Eric Ritter was at the helm. The second new boat was American Eagle. Bill Lutter's design was also tank tested for months. Like a whalesized skeleton with all its ribs in place, the towing tank model was coming to life. She was built by looters for Pierre Dupant syndicate and was christened by young Wendy Dupant, though with her grandfather's help. [Applause] [Music] In the first series of trial races, Constellation and American Eagle competed with Nefertiti, the runner up in the 62 trials, and Colombia, the 1958 Cup defender, [Music] Bill Cox. Sailing Eagle won every race. Nefertiti was second in the scoring, but Connie showed some flashes of speed, too. In July, Sovereign arrived at Newport where the red coats received a royal welcome from the Fifon drum corp. [Music] It was on the New York Yacht Club cruise. Constellation's mast went over the side in a hard blow. Rod Stevens got the sail off without damage. They took the mast from the trial boat nearest. 2 days later, it was rigged and ready under Rod's direction. A remarkable job. Connie was raring to go in the next race of the cruise. On board Nefertiti with Ted Hood at the wheel, American Eagle was close to stern soon after the start. [Music] Before long, Eagle pulled ahead. Next came Constellation, doing better, but not yet in winning form. [Music] On Nefertiti, one of the crew shinned out on the main sheet to rig a block. Almost didn't make it back. They all jived close to the Buzzards light tower. Connie was overtaking Nefertiti, but Eric Ritter had his eye on American Eagle up ahead. He still hadn't beaten Bill Cox in the match race. At this point, Ridd turned over the helm to Bob Bevere for starting and sailing to Windwood. The move paid off. They were well ahead of Eagle, but Cox was saved by the bell, the fog bell. The race was cancelled when a tanker appeared out of the Merc. [Music] In the British camp, Tony Bdon and Peter Scott got Sovereign ready for the final Challenger trials. Their arrival Kurawa was sailed by Colonel Stug Perry. The British race committee ran their trials near the cupcourse off Newport. There was some close races, but Sovereign was gaining the edge. The two hulls were almost identical. It was Scott's tactics and better sales that made the difference. [Applause] After winning six out of eight races, Sovereign was named as challenger. The Olympic course was used. A beat to Windwood followed by a reach, a right angle turn, and another reach. Then a second beat to Windwood, a run back to the start, and a final Windwood leg to the finish. A distance of 24 mi. Code flags gave the course to the first mark. These were the elimination races to pick the defender and American Eagle took this one from Colombia. They were all match races, just two boats like the cup races. So Connie took on Nefertiti in the other contest. Committee Chairman Dzelle watched as they hit the line together. After three races each in which Connie and Eagle beat the older boats every time, Colombia and Nefertiti were eliminated. The field was down to two. Constellation nearest the camera and American Eagle started their final series with a long hard port duel that drew a good crowd of spectators. As they jived at the second mark, Connie was nipping at the eagle's tail, watching every move. The spare crewmen were alert to see that everything was ship shaped. Well, back to the race. On the second beat to Windwood, Bob Bevere and Constellation kept the pressure on. He tacked again and again to get clear wind, perhaps hoping for a foul up in Eagle's gear. Each time, Bill Cox tacked to cover Connie. Both crews worked furiously as they tacked over 80 times during the race. Finally, Constellation inched out ahead. Eagle was forced to attack and Bevere won an exciting and important victory. Constellation Star was rising again. The two rivals went at each other. Eagle in the background chased Connie and America around. The tactic was developed by Harold Vanderbilt, the J-class skipper in the 30s to avoid being chased away from the starting line. Then, just at the right time, Bob Bevere bore off of the line, hoping to get a safe luid position with his wind clear. This he did, and the American Eagle was already feeling his backwind. Eagle had attack. Cox found that constellation was being sailed closer to the wind and outfooting him. Besides, the spectators were feeling the pinch, too. Connie took all but one of the races against Eagle in the final trials. Bill Cox tried everything, but just couldn't stay with the steadily improving constellation. American Eagle gave Connie the tough competition she needed. Time was running out for the Eagle. Throughout the summer, Connie won 10 out of 18 races against Eagle. It was the later races that really counted. [Music] As expected, the cup selection committee of the New York Yacht Club assembled for their final meeting. They called first on American Eagle and then Constellation. Come Morgan notified Eric Ritter that Constellation would defend the cup. This was the big day for the Jubilant crew, the Stevens brothers, Bob Bever, and Walter Gooman. Then the Eagle crew came aboard with congratulations. Bill Cox in the center shaking hands. As runner up in the trials, American Eagle won the Lipton Memorial Trophy presented by Commodore Stillman to Pete Dupant and Bill Cox. The cup honors that game loser, Sir Thomas Lipton, whose name and fame are known around the world. Time out for pictures of the Connie crew and cheerful skippers Ritter and Bevere. So, back to work. Ted Hood checked the mains after recutting, then some tacking and winch drill. Buzz Mossbacker, skipper of Weatherly in ' 62, sailed Eagle against Constellation for starting practice. Conniey's bending boom was a successful innovation. It automatically flattened the sail when sheated down hard and heavy weather. The happy winch grinder was giving his girl a whirl. Bever tried some more starts with Nefertiti. Constellation and Sovereign both hauled out before the first cup race. After the pre-race captain's meeting, Eric Ritter shook hands with Peter Scott, who looked rather apprehensive. Sailing out of Narroance at Bay, the schooner Sea Gypsy and Brigantine Black Pearl join the spectator fleet. The weekday start limited the crowd, but the Navy was there in force, including a British destroyer. [Music] [Applause] [Music] There were lots of little fellows, too. Sovereign and Connie were as ready as their crews could make them. Code flags gave the course to the first mark. For this race, it was west by south. The second and third legs of the Olympic course were east and north. For comfort, the best place to be was on the excursion steamers, provided, of course, you had binoculars. Sovereign and constellation started their merrygoround. 5 minutes to go. Scott was just as good as the Yankees at this, but at the last minute, the veer headed up and had a perfect start to Windwood of the Challenger. [Music] The view of the start from the excursion boat left something to be desired. without benefit of a telephoto lens. This is where they really were on the seagoing grandstand. Sovereign was soon well covered by constellation and steadily dropping back. So they tacked to get clear wind. The moment of truth had come and Peter Scott was finding out Sovereign's shortcomings. As soon as Connie tacked to cover, Scott tacked again. He was in the same situation as American Eagle, and it was a lost cause. Constellation could head close to the wind, tack just as fast, and go through the water better, at least in this moderate wind. Constellation's lead at the first mark was a minute and 50 seconds. Her spiner, borrowed from Eagle, was up and drawing as she passed Sovereign, still on the first leg. With his red spin a pulling well, Scott held his own on the second leg. [Music] Connie changed to a Genoa jib at the second mark boat. Sovereign did the same and completed the first round less than 2 minutes a stern. On the last three legs, Bevere really stretched it out. Coast Guard helicopters were used for the first time to patrol the course. They were most effective around the start and at the finish. Connie finished and received a thunderous ovation. [Music] Way back there was Sovereign. The course for the second race was souths southwest to the first mark under leen skies with a good 20 knot wind. They jockeyed before the start. Scott tacked at just the right time and was in a good position. Well to windward of the defender [Applause] [Music] in the rough seas. Sovereign soon lost her starting advantage. Constellation was driving through the waves superbly. The British on sovereign tender watched as their boat went down to the worst defeat in 78 years. Constellation was moving well under Bob Bever's able hands. The wind was easing a little on the last leg. As the sun broke through, Connie finished a whopping 20 minutes and 34 seconds ahead. Ritter agreed to race the next day, but Sovereign, as was their privilege, showed the checkered end flag, asking for the day off. As usual, both crews cheered each other after the finish. [Music] Next day, the sovereign crew washed sails on the lawn. Peter Scott went out to do some thinking and try another mainel. [Music] Up went the main on Connie for the third race. It was a cloudy day with a 22 knot blow. The Navy tug plowed out to set the first mark on a course of eastnortheast. Again, the Sovereign got a better start to Windwood of Constellation. But in a matter of minutes, the veer sailed right out from under the Challenger. In the rolling sea and a gusty wind, Constellation had a lead of more than 4 minutes at the first turn. As they rounded the tug, the crew set the blue and white spiner. [Applause] [Music] Sovereign sometimes gained a little downwind, but upwind she was hobby horsing over the waves. She almost stopped dead in the choppy seas. It was a wet, wet day. Connie took the seas in stride and tacked to cover the challenger. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Eric Ritter relieved Bevere on the last leg. Constellation drove on to finish the third race. [Music] The margin was more than 5 and 1/2 minutes over sovereign. [Applause] [Music] The next day being Sunday, both crews dried the wet sails from Saturday's race. The Castle Hill Hotel, Conniey's crew base, had a fine lawn for drying spiners. [Music] After chores, the pool table was a favorite spot. Touch football was banned as being too risky. [Music] That red spica of sovereigns was drawing pretty well right on the lawn. [Music] On Monday, Connie was ready to go, hoping to make it four straight. The course was eastn northeast. It was a bright sunny day with a moderate wind, but the spectator fleet had dwindled. The British must have been too eager. Sovereign was over the line at the gun. At the recall signal, Scott turned back to restart. So, the two skippers shared starting honors in the four races. Connie was slicing through the waves nicely and throwing spray to the side. In contrast, Sovereign, as shown in another airshot, seemed to push a lot of it out forward. Constellation again had a wide lead at the first mark. Sovereign rounded the tug, as seen in this unusual airshot, and set a light blue spinica for the second leg. [Music] Constellation made the second mark jive just the way the book says to. The spinica was full and drawing the whole way around as they dipped the pole under the gipay and up on the other side. The long season of racing had sharpened up their sail handling to near perfection. Peter Scott was sailing sovereign well. He deserved a better boat, but was sporting enough not to say so. The fleet had shrunk to little more than the patrol boats and the yaching writers too were disappointed in the uneven contest. Constellation gained even more on the last beach to Winwood. Bevere was handling her masterfully. They tacked for the finish line. This was a remarkable racing yacht. The towing tank had no waves, but Connie could handle them here in all sizes. It could only be the designer's knowhow and superior seammanship. The fleet rushed to the finish line to cheer the winner in the 19th defense of the America's Cup. [Music] Constellation waited for sovereign again. The crews cheered each other as they sailed into Newport together. They got a rousing welcome in the harbor. Bob Bevere and company with a toast of Newport. The Britain swapped shirts with the Yankees who gave Ritter and Bevere the heave ho. Peter Scott later acclaimed Constellations designer. Uh I think that Holen Stevens makes super boats. I think he's perhaps the greatest genius in the whole of this game. So, the America's Cup now carries the proud name of Constellation. [Music]