When Yachting Developments proudly re

CLASS
Feature Endeavour refit
Great
Endeavour
When Yachting Developments proudly re-launched
the iconic J Boat Endeavour, it marked the completion
of an extensive 18-month refit at the company’s
Hobsonville yard. The finished result is a truly stunning
classic yacht, restored to her former splendour.
Words Ben Gladwell
26
Boating New Zealand June 2012
Photos Yoichi Yabe and Chris Lewis
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27
hey’re widely accepted as some
of the most beautiful sailing
yachts ever built.
J Class yachts were raced for
the America’s Cup in the 1930s
and Endeavour, the second of
her class built by aeroplane
manufacturer Sir T.O.M Sopworth, unsuccessfully
challenged for the Auld Mug in 1934.
In the countdown to WWII she was neglected
and then subsequently passed around various
owners until being resurrected by Elizabeth
Meyer in an extensive refit from 1984 to 1989.
When she was relaunched, Endeavour was the
largest privately-owned yacht in the world.
Since then 214,000 nautical miles have
slipped beneath her keel, and by 2010 the
grand lady of the sea was due for some
well-deserved pampering. Enter New Zealand’s
Yachting Developments.
History
T
CLASS
Endeavour was commissioned by Sir T.O.M.
Sopwith and built by Camper & Nicholson at
Gosport, England to challenge for the America’s
Cup in 1934.
Sopwith prepared for his campaign in
Shamrock V, and he was keen to ensure that
his new yacht was the most advanced design
possible. He used his experience designing
aircraft and aviation technology to create
Endeavour’s rig and winches and spared
nothing to make her the finest vessel of her day.
From her launch in 1934 she continued her
preparation by competing against Shamrock
V (then owned by Sir Richard Fairey) and the
newly-launched Velsheda (owned by W.L
Stephenson). She swept through the British
racing fleet and into the hearts of yachtsmen
the world around, amassing many race wins in
her first season. Like many challengers before
her, Endeavour did not win the Cup, but she did
get agonisingly close.
Endeavour’s design pioneered the
development of the quadrilateral genoa, a
two-clewed headsail that offered immense sail
area and power, and which is still used on J
Class yachts today. She also had a larger and
better-designed spinnaker.
Where Sopwith’s challenge went wrong
was with the crew. Just prior to departure for
“Among other indignities, she
was sold to a scrap merchant
in 1947, only to be saved by
another buyer hours before her
demolition was due to begin.”
28
Boating New Zealand June 2012
the USA, his professional crew went on strike
for more money and Sopwith was forced to
round up keen amateur sailors, who were more
than enthusiastic but lacking in experience.
Afterwards, she returned to England to
dominate the British racing scene until 1938
when she was laid up prior to the war. Over the next 46 years Endeavour
passed through many hands, her
fate often hanging by a thread.
Among other indignities, she was
sold to a scrap merchant in 1947, only
to be saved by another buyer hours
before her demolition was due to begin.
In the 1970s, she sank in the Medina
River in Cowes but again, at the 11th
hour, she was saved and bought
n in
toratio
for £10 by two carpenters who
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and a
patched the holes in her hull with
Endea bove); as s y (below); refit
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19
plastic bags and got her afloat again.
racing
her ex
1930s oday after pments
In the early 1980s, Endeavour sat in an
t
lo
she is ting Deve
h
abandoned seaplane base in southern
by Yac
England. She was a complete wreck,
rusting and forlorn with no keel,
rudder, ballast or interior.
In 1984 she was purchased by
classic yacht enthusiast Elizabeth
Meyer, who spent five years rebuilding
her. Endeavour sailed again on June 22,
1989 for the first time in 52 years.
156 Beaumont Street,
Westhaven,
Auckland 1010.
New Zealand.
Ph +64 9 358 2050
Email [email protected]
www.whitingpower.com
0612206
proudly
supporting
yachting
developments ltd
& sy endeavour
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29
Rebirth of
J Class
Racing
The restoration of
Endeavour, Shamrock
V, Rainbow, Valsheda,
Lionheart and Ranger
has inspired the J
Class Association to
showcase the beauty
and majesty of these
classic yachts by
organising a series
of events across
the south coast of
England.
J Class
Falmouth
Regatta
J Class
Solent
Regatta
June 26-30
Six races, hosted by
the Royal Cornwall
Yacht Club, will
take place around
a laid course inside
the beautiful, deep
harbour and along the
spectacular Cornish
coastline. All six boats
will race, making it the
first time that more than
four J Class yachts will
have lined up together.
July 18-20
The Royal
Southampton Yacht
Club will host five
entrants in three races
on the traditional
home waters of J
Class racing during
the 1930s. The first
two races will take
place at either end
of the Solent, with
the final race to
be contested in its
central waters.
0612207
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Boating New Zealand June 2012
The
Hundred
Guinea
Cup Race
July 21
This will again be
hosted by the RSYC.
Five entrants will
retrace the steps
of the original 1851
racers, travelling
75nm course,
clockwise around
the Isle of Wight,
including the Nab
Tower.
negotiations before Endeavour’s owner
opted to entrust Yachting Developments
being transported by barge to Yachting
Development’s factory.
Absolute care was taken throughout
with the restoration of the iconic J Class
the refit to preserve as much of the
boat. Yachting Development managing
vessel as was practical while still
director Ian Cook is hugely passionate
taking advantage of 21st century sailing
about classic yachts and it was thought
systems, enhanced performance and
that he would have an appreciation for
improved functionality.
the significance of the project, and see to
One thing that the owner was very
it that the iconic yacht was afforded the
particular about was having as much of
respect she deserved.
the boat’s interior left in throughout the
Endeavour weighs in at 160,000kg
refit. This meant that extreme care had
and she created quite a spectacle as
to be taken by the boatbuilders to avoid
she was carefully craned out of the water
causing a fire with the extreme heat that
in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, before
is produced during welding.
0612229
It took more than a year of
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31
Endeavour’s stunning period-style interior
was designed for Elizabeth Meyer by John
Munford and Adam Lay. All the new interior
work was completed in-house by Yachting
Developments craftsmen in Auckland
CLASS
Through the use of 3D modelling it was
Once back on the water, Endeavour
the project, and in excess of 40 tonnes
possible to accurately create a space-saving
of material was removed and replaced on
boarded the Dock Express, a submersible
but serviceable layout in all underfloor
the vessel during the refit.
ship used for transporting large vessels,
service areas including the engine room.
bound for Florida. Upon arriving at her
There has been a long-term
The refit included removal and complete
philosophy of longevity and serviceability
delivery mainsail. The paintwork on both
destination in the US, she set off under
replacement of the weather deck and all
throughout the refit, ensuring Endeavour
the interior and exterior was extensive,
sail that very day on the 1000 nautical
deck equipment. Steel deck framing was
will remain the historic icon she is today
with a spectacular finish achieved using
mile upwind journey to St. Barths (St
also relocated to accommodate load paths
for future generations.
products supplied by International Paints
Barthélemy, French West Indies) in the
and Awlgrip.
Caribbean Sea.
of the new deck layout. The number of deck
The main engine, generators,
The owner’s project management
She was to race in the Bucket Regatta
winches was reduced from 28 to 14 and all
hydraulic systems, winches, electrical
dorades were removed in keeping with her
system, electronics, bow thruster and air
is by Jon Barrett Associates, who have
and arrived the day before racing
original appearance.
conditioning have been either replaced
had over 25 years experience in this role
commenced, giving the race crew time for
or upgraded.
with Endeavour.
just one short practice sail the afternoon
Accommodation forward of the mast
was reconfigured by John Munford
The new carbon-fibre mast was built
Cook describes working on Endeavour
as an honour.
before racing commenced.
But it was all she needed. Endeavour
and Adam Lay, who also designed the
by Southern Spars Auckland and features
interior for Elizabeth Meyer, and the new
EC6 carbon standing rigging. A completely
interior was built in-house by Yachting
new set of sails were manufactured
involved has put their heart and soul into
three other J-Class yachts – Hanuman,
Developments craftsmen.
by North Sails NZ, including full race
the refit. I think the care and passion is
Ranger and Valsheda – all of which were
inventory and a new purpose-built
very evident in the end result.”
sailed by their regular professional crews.
More than 100,000 hours went into
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Boating New Zealand June 2012
“She is something special, everyone
won the regatta in fine style, outstripping