Sailboat "Shamrock"

The Story of the Shamrock V

The Shamrock V is one of the most famous yachts in sailing history and is considered an icon of the J-Class. Built in 1930 at the Camper & Nicholson shipyard in Gosport, UK, it was the first British yacht designed according to the new J-Class rules. It was commissioned by Sir Thomas Lipton, the renowned tea magnate and passionate sailor. Lipton had already attempted to win the America's Cup four times without success and now relied on a revolutionary design for his fifth attempt.

The Shamrock V was designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson. It was 36.5 meters long, built with mahogany planks over a steel frame, and equipped with a Bermuda rig, an innovation for British competitors. After its launch on April 14, 1930, it immediately demonstrated its potential: it won 15 of the 22 races on the British circuit.

In the summer of 1930, Lipton sailed Shamrock V across the Atlantic to compete in the 14th America's Cup off Newport, Rhode Island. There, he faced the defending American yacht, Enterprise, designed by Starling Burgess. Despite intensive preparation and several upgrades to the hull and rigging, Shamrock V could not overcome Enterprise's superior performance. The Americans won the series decisively, 4-0. Lipton accepted defeat gracefully—as he had in his previous attempts—and was hailed in the United States for his fair play and optimism.

After the Cup, Shamrock V remained in service. In 1931, Sir Thomas Sopwith acquired the yacht to gain experience for his own J-Class yacht, Endeavour. In the following decades, Shamrock V changed hands several times, but it was never abandoned; it is the only original J-Class yacht that never deteriorated.

Today, the Shamrock V is over 90 years old and is considered the "Queen of the J Class." She has undergone several restorations, most recently a complete refurbishment in Southampton, where her wooden planks and steel frame were meticulously refurbished. Thanks to this work, she continues to sail in classic races and represents a golden age of sailing.

The story of the Shamrock V is not just that of a boat, but also that of a man who, despite five defeats, never lost faith in his dream: Sir Thomas Lipton. His motto, "Never despair, press on," lives on in this legendary yacht.