HALF HULL J CLASS RACER "RAINBOW" SAILBOAT SHIP MODEL

  

 

Presented is a half hull of RAINBOW built to the same high standards of our other models. She  is constructed from scratch by skilled craftsmen, and is true to the original's construction. Created from scratch the model is faithful to the original in all details. At each step along the way, all operations are painstakingly done by hand including a finely finished painted white enamel hull  and varnished bottom coat which shows off th eindividual planking to advantage. It's finely finished form will make it a treasured addition to any collection or décor.

This Half Hull is mounted on a Mahogany board with engraved brushed brass identification plate for a traditional presentation. 

 

In addition to the RAINBOW half hull there is the Reliance, Endeavour, Enterprise, and Reliance in the J Class. There are Schooner Bluenose in two sizes and the Schooner Gertrude L. Thebaud. We also offer a Maine Lobster boat in motor vessels, a Chris Craft Barrel Back, Two and three cockpit runabouts, and the Utility, plus the Garwood Speedster, a classic 1920 motor yacht, a 1926 raised deck cabin cruiser, the Dreamboat, and  In sailboats we have the Crosby cat, the Marshall 18, and Beetle cats, a Friendship sloop, Schooners Adventuress, America, Amistad in two sizes, the much admired Herreshoff's 12.5  "S" boats, and New York 30, the Schooner Adventuress, J Class Rainbow, Endeavour, Enterprise, Shamrock, each as full models or half hulls, and  also Sparkman & Stephen's ocean racer Dorade, yawl Odyssey, and Concordia yawl.  Please tell us what other boats you'd like to see at auction. 

 

 Shipping and Handling to 48 contiguous states $18.00

  

HISTORY OF CLASS:  J Class yachts were always on a grand scale, huge spreads of canvas on hulls of 120 feet or more, large crew numbers of up to 35, and most of all multi-millionaires able to afford them. It is this class of boat that epitomizes the peak of yachting competitiveness - racing for The America's Cup.

The class came into being with the creation of the Universal Rule in 1920 for building classes that would be similar in length, sail area and hull shape to produce seaworthy boats that could race without complicated handicapping. Waterline length was to be between 76 and 87 feet with controlled scantlings and sail area to suit the rule. Only 10 boats were purpose built to the rule, 6 in the USA and 4 in the UK.

PARTIAL HISTORY OF RAINBOW: 

Rainbow was designed by W Starling Burgess and launched in 1934 from the Herreshoff yard where she was built in just 100 days. The J stepped a pear-shaped duralumin mast, designed to take the strain of the double-headed jib — first used on Whirlwind — and she was originally rigged with a Park Avenue boom. This was later removed because it was considered too heavy.

 

The J boat era of 1930'S could be called the Vanderbilt era. Harold S. Vanderbilt was skipper in 1930, 1934 and 1937. He was also the principal backer of the magnificent Js, ENTERPRISE, RAINBOW, and RANGER, financing the latter entirely himself. The match in 1934 was between Endeavour and the defender, Rainbow. Rainbow was a light weather boat and Endeavour came close to lifting the Cup, a vital tactical error by Sopwith lost them a "certain" 3rd race. (He did not cover the boat behind !)  It is generally believed that RAINBOW won through the acumen of Vanderbilt and C. Sherman Hoyt of his afterguard.

 

Approximate Specifications of model:

 

Length:  27 in

Draft:       3 1/2 in
Beam:     2 1/4  in

Mahogany Backboard: 29 1/2 x 7 3/8 in            Weight: 4 lbs

 

HULL COLOR: White enamel with varnished bottom