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''Valkyrie III'', officially named ''Valkyrie'', was the unsuccessful British challenger of the ninth
''Valkyrie III'' was launched on 27 May 1895. After a few mixed test races (for which she was later criticized for lack of previous competition) she sailed to New York to prepare for the ninth America's Cup.
''Valkyrie III'' was beaten by ''Defender'' in the first race of the 1895 America's Cup. ''Valkyrie III'' fouled the leeward ''Defender'' during the prestart to the second race, breaking her starboard shrouds, but the latter did not protest and the race took place nevertheless, with ''Valkyrie III'' finishing ahead of ''Defender'' on corrected time. In turn the America's Cup committee ruled to disqualify the ''Valkyrie III'' because of the foul and dismissed Lord Dunraven's counter-proposal to re-race. ''Valkyrie III'' was withdrawn immediately after the start of the third race and ''Defender'' ran over the course unchallenged and successfully defended the America's Cup. Lord Dunraven claimed the Americans had cheated, creating a public controversy that jeopardized the future challenges for the America's Cup race until
America's Cup
The America's Cup is a sailing competition and the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy (known ...
race in 1895 against American defender ''Defender''.
Design
''Valkyrie III'', a keel cutter, was designed byGeorge Lennox Watson
George Lennox Watson (30 October 1851 – 12 November 1904) was a Scottish naval architect. Born in Glasgow, son of Thomas Lennox Watson, a doctor at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and grandson of Sir Timothy Burstall, engineer and entrant at th ...
and built at the D&W Henderson
David & William Henderson and Company was a Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding company, based on Clydeside. It was founded in 1872 and traded until 1936 . Its shipyard was on the north bank of the River Clyde at its confluence with the ...
on the River Clyde
The River Clyde (, ) is a river that flows into the Firth of Clyde, in the west of Scotland. It is the eighth-longest river in the United Kingdom, and the second longest in Scotland after the River Tay. It runs through the city of Glasgow. Th ...
in 1894-1895 for a syndicate including Lord Londsale, Lord Wolverton, Captain Henry McCalmont and headed by Lord Dunraven of the Royal Yacht Squadron
The Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) is a British yacht club. Its clubhouse is Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. Member yachts are given the suffix RYS to their names, and are permitted (with the appropriate warrant) to we ...
. ''Valkyrie III'' had a steel frame, a hull planked with American elm and teak, and a pine deck.
Career
''Valkyrie III'' was launched on 27 May 1895. After a few mixed test races (for which she was later criticized for lack of previous competition) she sailed to New York to prepare for the ninth America's Cup.
''Valkyrie III'' was beaten by ''Defender'' in the first race of the 1895 America's Cup. ''Valkyrie III'' fouled the leeward ''Defender'' during the prestart to the second race, breaking her starboard shrouds, but the latter did not protest and the race took place nevertheless, with ''Valkyrie III'' finishing ahead of ''Defender'' on corrected time. In turn the America's Cup committee ruled to disqualify the ''Valkyrie III'' because of the foul and dismissed Lord Dunraven's counter-proposal to re-race. ''Valkyrie III'' was withdrawn immediately after the start of the third race and ''Defender'' ran over the course unchallenged and successfully defended the America's Cup. Lord Dunraven claimed the Americans had cheated, creating a public controversy that jeopardized the future challenges for the America's Cup race until Sir Thomas Lipton
Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, 1st Baronet (10 May 18482 October 1931) was a Scotsman of Irish parentage who was a self-made man, as company founder of Lipton Tea, merchant, philanthropist and yachtsman who lost 5 straight America's Cup races.
...
issued his own ''Shamrock'' challenge in 1898.
In 1899 ''Valkyrie III'' hull was refaired and repainted to serve as a trial horse for ''Shamrock'', but eventually she did not serve that purpose. She was broken up in 1901.
See also
* ''Valkyrie II'' (yacht)Notes
References
External links
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Valkyrie Iii (Yacht) America's Cup challengers Individual sailing vessels