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 Photo date: Sept. 1895. |
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 Photo Date Aug. 2, 1899. Probably near the Newport Y.C. |
 Photo Date Aug. 2, 1899. Probably near the Newport Y.C. |
 Photo Date: Oct. 3, 1899. |
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There were two Columbias. The first Columbia (shown in photograph #24, above) successfully defended the America's Cup in 1871 against English challenger Livonia. The second Columbia (seen in #728, 729, 748, and 750, above) successfully defended the America's Cup in 1899 against Irish challenger Shamrock, and again in 1901 against Shamrock II.
Columbia #1 (centerboard schooner ):The first Columbia was designed and built in 1871 by Joseph B.Van Duesen of Williamsburgh, NY and Chester, PA, and was the first Cup defender to concede a win to a challenger, Livonia. It needed help from the Sappho because it became too damaged to compete. After winning the first two races, the Columbia gave the British their first win (there were four races in the America's Cup) because although it was damaged it agreed to race and lost. It became more damaged in that race and couldn't compete in the final race. Sappho substituted and won, keeping the Cup in the Americans' hands.
According to Americascup.com:
"The racing career of Columbia ended in 1908. It was dismasted and then altered as a houseboat and moored at Brooklyn harbour on the East River, facing Manhattan. Three years later, an enthusiastic yachtsman took it to Baltimore where it was partially rebuilt and fitted with a new rig. For eight years, its homeport was Newport News, Virginia, and it sailed as a cruiser. In 1920, Columbia was bought by a fisherman and was declared as lost in 1923."
"Columbia Owner: Franklin Osgood. Yacht manager: Henry Steers. Skipper: Andrew J. Comstock (two first races) then Horatio Nelson "Nelse" Comstock (beaten by Livonia in the third race). Afterguard: Captain Roland F. Coffin, Edward Fox, Ernest Staples, J. Lester Wallack."
Columbia #2 (fin keep sloop):According to the December 1899 edition of Outing magazine, the owners of the second Columbia were Messrs Morgan and Iselin, the designer/builder was Nat Herreshoff, the sailing master was Charles Barr, and the crew were Deer Isle sailors.
According to photographer John S. Johnston's obituary in the New York Times, Johnston caught a severe cold while covering this race at the 1899 America's Cup, leading to his death.
According to Americascup.com:
"Columbia was the third defender modelled and built by Herreshoff. J. Pierpont Morgan and W. Buttler Duncan rebuilt Defender in order to use it as a trial horse for the new 1899 America's Cup defence candidate, Columbia which won the elimination trials over Defender easily.
"[After the 1899 cup,] Columbia sailed back to Bristol to be dry-docked and where an exceptional destiny waited for it.... Herreshoff...focused on another new candidate for the defence of the Cup, Constitution. But the New York Yacht Club Committee make a fatal error when they sideline Charlie Barr, victorious skipper of the 1899 Cup series, because of his Scottish origins. Barr bursts back onto the scene as skipper of the 'old' Columbia. He turns races against Constitution into tactical lessons. A row erupts when Bostonian Thomas W. Lawson commissions Independence as a defence candidate, even though he is not or has any intention, of belonging to the defending club, a requirement outlined in the Deed of Gift. The scow-type design performs embarrassingly, is too fragile and never a serious candidate. Before the Cup match had been decided, her hull is sold for scrap. Columbia and Constitution compete against each other on 18 occasions over the season, winning nine times apiece. The final elimination trials are held between August 10 and 25, 1901. Constitution, skippered by Uriah Rhodes, proves too inconsistent and Columbia, helmed by the aggressive Barr, is selected to defend the Cup against Shamrock II.
"Columbia enters America's Cup legend as the first boat to win the trophy two times in succession. ... The 'old' Columbia beat the brand new Shamrock II in spite of the Irish challenger's scientific approach to design. The talent of Charlie Barr is considered the biggest factor in the successful defence. Sir Thomas Lipton concluded: "We have been beaten by a better boat". He should have said "by a better skipper". Designer Nathanael Herreshoff still regarded Constitution as the faster boat.
"[In] 1902 Columbia is put on hold in Robert Jacob's yard at City Island. [In] 1903 Columbia is refitted by Edwin D. Morgan and skippered by Captain "Lem" Miller, Charlie Barr's mate during the 1899 and 1901 Cup campaigns, in order to sail the elimination trials for the 1903 America's Cup defence. It is crushed by the impressive Reliance. [In]1904 businessmen consider converting Columbia into a restaurant moored on the North River, but the project is scraped. [In] 1913 the 1899 and 1901 America's Cup winner is transferred to the Hawkins Yard at City Island and cut up for the scrap.
"Yacht club: New York Yacht Club, New York, United States
Owners: J. Pierpont Morgan and Edwin D. Morgan
Sailmaker: 1899, Herreshoff (Bristol); 1901, Ratsey (City Island)
Skipper: Charlie Barr. Captain: "Lem" Miller. Afterguard 1899: Newberry Thorne, Woodbury Kane, Herbert C. Leeds, W. Buttler Duncan Jr., Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin & C. Oliver Iselin. Afterguard 1901: James Parker and Herbert C. Leeds"For more information, see http://www.americascup.com/en/acclopaedia/circlinggalaxy/bateau.php?idContent=4703