.jpg) Sappho leaving Sandy Hook July 28 1869, bound to Europe | |
| Yacht club |  New York Yacht Club |
|---|---|
| Nation |  United States |
| Builder | Cornelius & Richard Poillon Bros |
| Launched | 1867 |
| Owner(s) | William Proctor Douglas |
| Fate | Scrapped atCowes 1887 |
| Racing career | |
| Skippers | Samuel Greenwood |
| Notable victories | 1871 America's Cup (withColumbia) |
| America's Cup | 1871 |
| Specifications | |
| Type | Gaff schooner |
| Length | 42 m (138 ft) (LOA) 36.40 m (119.4 ft) (LWL) |
| Beam | 8.22 m (27.0 ft) |
| Draft | 3.90 m (12.8 ft) |
| Sail area | 1,170 m2 (12,600 sq ft) |
Sappho was one of two defender yachts at the secondAmerica's Cup challenge, stepping in when defenderColumbia was damaged in the third race.
Sappho was built byCornelius & Richard Poillon Bros. on speculation for Richard Poillon to a design by William Townsend based on the lines ofAmerica.
Sappho was launched from the C. & R. Poillonshipyard at the foot of Bridge street, on May 25, 1867.[1]
In 1868,Sappho sailed across the Atlantic to England. There she entered the Round the Isle of Wight Race. Competing against the yachtsAline,Cambria,Condor, and Oimara,Sappho finished last. Her poor showing encouragedCambria's owner,James Lloyd Ashbury, to be the first to challenge theNew York Yacht Club for the America's Cup.[2][3][4]
Following her defeat,Sappho returned to the US where she was sold to New York Yacht Club member William Proctor Douglas.[5] Douglas turned her over to CaptainRobert "Bob" Fish who altered her hull, improved her ballast, and modified her rigging. The changes made her faster. In 1869Sappho returned to England setting a record for the crossing of 12 days 9 hours 36 minutes.[6]
On 15 April 1870.Sappho ran aground inLymington Creek. She was refloated.[7] In May 1870,Sappho won the race against Ashbury's English yachtCambria. TheDauntless came in third place.[8] Despite losing toSappho, Ashbury tookCambria to America to challenge for the America's Cup. He lost toMagic.
Unsuccessful in his attempt to wrest the Cup from the New York Yacht Club in1870, Ashbury tried again in1871, this time with his yachtLivonia. The selected defender wasColumbia.Columbia raced the first three races winning the first two and losing the third.Sappho raced the next two races winning both and retaining the America's Cup for the New York Yacht Club.[9] On 7 September 1872,Sappho ran aground in theSolent 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) west ofRyde Pier,Isle of Wight.[10]
Sappho was sold in 1876 to Prince Sciarra de Colonia who raced her in the French Riviera. Upon the prince's death,Sappho was acquired by George Marvin who sailed her until she was scrapped atCowes in 1887.
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