Columbia, US-16

HISTORY:

1958-1962: Built for the 17th America’s Cup campaign at a cost of $300,000, her design was a development of Vim. She was slightly longer on the waterline with reduced sail area, but this was compensated by the efficiency of newer sails (later Dacron) and the reduced thickness (resistance) of her keel. Briggs Cunnigham skippered her to victory at the Defender Trials over Weatherly, Easterner and Vim and ultimately to a 4-0 win over Sceptre for the America’s Cup. In 1960 she was sold to Paul Shields, who altered her keel, she participated in the Defender Trials for the 1962 America’s Cup.

1964-1975: Columbia was purchased by Thomas Patrick Dougan of Southampton, NY and Newport Beach. In 1966 her hull was altered, and although she performed well, she was dominated by Intrepid in the Defender Trials that year. In 1967 she won the Caritas Cup (NYYC) and the Lipton Memorial Trophy. In 1975 she was purchased by the Swedish Syndicate as a trial horse to Sverige.

1976-2000: Columbia was purchased by Pelle Petterson who modified her and sold her on to Xavier Rougert-Luchaire who used her as the trial horse to Lionheart in 1979. Her homeport was Cannes, France until 2000 when she was brought “home” to Newport by Paul Gardener and Bill Collins.

Owned by Alain Hanover

Purchased by Kevin Hegarty, 12mR Yacht Charters and was rebuilt at New England Boat Works (Portsmouth,RI) with a new keel designed by David Pedrick.

2019: Columbia (US-16) won the Traditional Division of the 2019 12mR World Championship at Newport, RI

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