J Class Yachts at Plymouth's Regatta Week

This is a beautiful film of Nathanael Herreshoff single masted racing sailboat design, the J Class. The yachts Britannia, Astra, Shamrock and Endeavour are racing in Plymouth Sound. In 1903 the Universal Rule established similar classes for racing yachts and in 1930 this was adopted for the J class and new boats were built for competition in the prestigious America's Cup. The America's Cup was first awarded in 1851 to the yacht America for an Isle of Wight Yacht Race.

Held by the New York Yacht Club the so-called Auld Cup was up for perpetual international competition. In 1929 Sir Thomas Lipton launched a fifth final challenge and his Shamrock V was the first of the J Class to compete in 1930. Stephenson's Velsheda and Sopwith's Endeavour also challenged for the America's Cup of 1935. Built for Edward VII in 1893 the Royal Yacht Britannia was as a 212 tonne gaff rigged cutter. In 1921 George V adapted the Britannia for racing. Befitting his dying wishes the Britannia was towed out to sea on 10 July 1936 and sunk at St Catherine's Deep off the Isle of Wight. J Class competition ended with the onset of the Second World War. The J Class Shamrock V, Endeavour and Velsheda survived.