The Puritan was a 19th-century racing yacht and the 1885 America's Cup defender of the international sailing trophy.

The yacht Puritan, photographed by John S. Johnston.
Yacht club New York Yacht Club
Nation United States
BuilderGeorge Lawley & Son
LaunchedMay 26, 1885
Owner(s)John Malcolm Forbes
Racing career
SkippersJohn Malcolm Forbes
Notable victories1885 America's Cup
America's Cup1885
Specifications
Displacement105-tons Thames Measurement
Length94 ft 0 in (28.65 m) (LOA)
81 ft 1.5 in (24.727 m) (LWL)
Beam22 ft 7 in (6.88 m)
Draft8 ft 8 in (2.64 m)
Sail area7,982 sq ft (741.6 m2)

Construction and service

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Designed by Edward Burgess, she was built at the George Lawley & Son yard in South Boston, Massachusetts and launched May 26, 1885. For sails, Burgess chose the Irish-born sailmaker John H. McManus of McManus & Son, of Boston. The sails were of Plymouth duck.[1]: p121 [2]

 
Puritan as photographed by John S. Johnston.

The Puritan was an early combination of American and English designs with some of the depth of a cutter but beam and power of a sloop. It was built and skippered by John Malcolm Forbes.[1]

She defeated the New York Yacht Club's Priscilla then went on to defend the America's Cup against the British yacht Genesta, a traditional cutter. Immediately following the contest, they began work on an improved version which would be called the Mayflower.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Dunne, W. M. P.; Patrick, William Matthew (1934). Thomas F. McManus and the American fishing schooners: an Irish-American success story. Mystic, Conn., Mystic Seaport Museum.
  2. ^ a b Lawson, Thomas W. (1902). "Chapter VII". The Lawson History of the America's Cup. Winfield M. Thompson Press. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-907069-40-9.
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