Please select your home edition
Edition
V-DRY-X
Product Feature
Ocean Safety Offshore First Aid Kit
Ocean Safety Offshore First Aid Kit

The oldest video footage of J Class yacht racing

by Magnus Smith 18 Aug 2024 12:00 BST
Launch Day for Britannia Kickstarter © K1 Britannia

The America's Cup starts next week so it is a good moment to dig through our huge video archive to see the oldest footage from the beautiful class used for this competition between 1930 and 1937.

There are 32 videos from the years 1914 to 1937 but here we just list the top ten. We have omitted anything dull/repetitive or where the image is of poor quality. So many of those videos were silent and shot from a distance.

Our oldest footage comes from even earlier than the Cup era. Gaff rigs with mast hoops, and jib-booms, were used back then. In addition, Shamrock IV in 1920, New York seems to show some outboard protrusions on the hull, to carry the shrouds?

There is some good on-board footage in this next video: 'Shamrock', 'Britannia' and 'White Heather' at Plymouth Royal Regatta, 1925

Launch of 'Shamrock V' (some time in the 30s) was popular - look at how many turned up to wave their hats! You can see the faces of some of the key players.

Finally we have sound for 'Shamrock V' hauled out in Newport! It is interesting to see how repairs were done in the thirties. Also there are interviews, which is rare for this time (most footage merely has an announcer's voice).

Largest mast ever made (as of 1931) stepped in 'Britannia' in Portsmouth is fascinating to watch - the way it is man-handled, and the 'technology' mentioned.

Another popular event: Launch of 'Velsheda' in 1933.

The America's Cup, 1934 - 'Rainbow' in trials against 'Yankee', plus Endeavour is an interesting watch because of the on-board footage. It is crazy how many people were needed to hoist the mainsail.

This video is worth watching because of the terribly stilted chat between the two men caught on camera: First races of 1934 America's Cup. Plus it is the first time we see a J Class spinnaker on YouTube.

If you want more of the same style interview material, watch Harry S. Vanderbuilt interviewed ahead of America's Cup, 1935.

Finally we have colour, and also get to see on-deck work close up. Onboard colour footage from J Class 'Yankee' is from 1937

In the same year, 'Ranger' and 'Endeavour II' - America's Cup is another good video.

We take a leap into the 1980s now, with a TV documentary on the 'Velsheda' relaunch.

What of the rest?

Do you know the location of any J Class videos that show racing fleets from the 1940s to the 70s which we have missed? We would love to share these with other sailors. You can submit video links to us for immediate review.

Keep watching with:

Related Articles

The power of tech
What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? Posted on 2 Jul
An evening with the Scaramouche Sailing Trust
Sailing hasn't always been a sport for inner-city state schools like the Greig City Academy Sailing hasn't always been a sport for inner-city state schools like the Greig City Academy (GCA). But they've shown it can be accessible to everyone, with amazing results. Posted on 2 Jul
Jazz Turner completes Project FEAR
Drama right to the end in her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles Jazz Turner has completed Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin 27 yacht. A flotilla of supporters met her in Seaford Bay, which grew and grew the closer they came to Brighton Marina. Posted on 1 Jul
Project FEAR is in the final few days
Charity circumnavigation almost over, in record time, with a record total raised Jazz Turner is expected to reach home (Brighton Marina) on Monday 30th June or Tuesday 1st July. She has sailed round the British Isles - all round Ireland and the Shetland Islands - without any assistance in 27 days so far. Posted on 28 Jun
Funding for clubs transforms sailing opportunities
During the latest RYA Participation Webinar we heard from UK clubs about their experiences During the latest RYA Participation Webinar we heard from a range of UK clubs, walking through their case studies, and then heard from experts in finance who talked us through the opportunities and pitfalls of acquiring funds. Posted on 26 Jun
A brief history of marine instrument networks
Hugh Agnew has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge One man who has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge, is Hugh Agnew, the Cambridge-educated mathematician who is one of the founders of A+T Instruments in Lymington, so I spoke to him to find out more... Posted on 25 Jun
Project FEAR turns southwards
Charity circumnavigation progress report from the Shetland Islands Last month I didn't even know that Muckle Flugga existed. Yet today, the very name of the island brought tears of emotion to my eyes, as I heard Jazz Turner scream it out in victory, in a video she took when passing the lighthouse. Posted on 22 Jun
The Big Bash
Every summer the tournament rolls into town. A short format of the game. Fun and excitement abound. Every summer the tournament rolls into town. Local and international players. A short format of the game, run over a relatively compact six-week season. Posted on 15 Jun
The oldest video footage of Kiel Week
A look back into our video archive at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s In our series of articles looking back in time through our video archive, we visit Germany. Kiel Week is been a crucial event on the world circuit, and here we look back at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s. Posted on 15 Jun
Jazz Turner's fundraising target is smashed
Already £30k raised for Sailability, so it's time to up the ante Jazz Turner has now passed the northern-most tip of Ireland and is on her way to the Shetland Islands, and at the same time her fundraising total of £30,000 has been smashed! Posted on 15 Jun