Weatherly (yacht) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Weatherly

Yacht club	New York Yacht Club
Nation	United States
Class	12-metre
Sail no	US–17
Designer(s)	Philip Rhodes
Builder	Luders Marine Construction Company
Launched	1958
Owner(s)	Henry D. Mercer syndicate
Racing career
Skippers	Emil "Bus" Mosbacher, Jr.
Notable victories	1962 America's Cup
America's Cup	1962
Specifications
Displacement	25.65 tons
Length	21.03 m (69.0 ft) (LOA) 13.86 m (45.5 ft) (LWL)
Beam	3.62 m (11.9 ft)
Draft	2.72 m (8 ft 11 in)
Sail area	165.6 m2 (1,783 sq ft)

Weatherly (US 17) is a famous sailboat known for racing. She first tried to defend the America's Cup in 1958 but didn't win. Later, in 1962, she successfully defended the Cup, becoming a champion!

Building a Champion: Weatherly's Design

Weatherly was a special type of sailboat called a 12-metre keel sloop. She was designed by Philip Rhodes and built in 1958. The boat was made by Luders Marine Construction Company in Stamford, Connecticut.

What Weatherly Was Made Of

Weatherly was built for a group of owners led by Henry D. Mercer. Her body was made from two layers of African mahogany wood. This wood was placed over strong white oak frames. All the important parts, like the mast step and fasteners, were made of bronze. Bronze is a very strong metal.

Weatherly's Racing Journey

Weatherly had an exciting career in sailboat racing. She competed in some of the biggest sailing events.

First Attempts at the America's Cup

From 1958 to 1961, Arthur Knapp was Weatherly's skipper, or captain. She raced against other famous boats like Columbia, Easterner, and Vim. They were all trying to earn the right to defend the America's Cup. This is a very important international sailing competition. In 1958, Weatherly was eliminated. Columbia was chosen instead and won the Cup that year.

Getting Ready for the 1962 Race

For the 1962 America's Cup, Weatherly got some important upgrades. Bill Luders, a boat builder, made changes to her. He shortened her back end and changed her rudder. These small changes helped save weight. The weight that was saved was then added to her keel. This made the boat more stable and helped her carry more sail.

The Big Win: 1962 America's Cup

In 1962, Weatherly again competed in the defender selection trials. She raced against Columbia, Easterner, and a new boat called Nefertiti. On August 25, 1962, the New York Yacht Club chose Weatherly to defend the Cup.

This time, Weatherly was skippered by Emil "Bus" Mosbacher, Jr.. In September 1962, Weatherly raced against the Australian challenger, Gretel. Weatherly won the Cup, beating Gretel 4–1. It was a great victory!

Life After the America's Cup

Weatherly continued to be used as a "trial horse" for future America's Cup races. This means she helped other boats practice and test their speed. Surprisingly, even when she was older, she was invited to race in the defender trials in 1970.

After 1970, an engine was put into Weatherly. She then traveled through the Erie Canal to the Great Lakes. There, she was changed to be better for offshore racing. Weatherly had an active racing life on the Great Lakes.

In the mid-1970s, Weatherly was sold. Today, you can usually find her docked at the Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina. She is available for people to charter, meaning you can rent her for a trip. In 2012, she was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means she is recognized as an important historical item.

Weatherly's Changes Over Time

Weatherly changed a bit between her 1958 and 1962 races. Here's a look at how her measurements compared: