AMARYLLIS - JOHN GILPIN - AC45 - NARRAGANSETT BAY 1876 - NEWPORT 2012 - AMERICA'S CUP - AMERICA'S CUP WORLD SERIES

136 years after Nathanael Greene Herreshoff's catamaran Amaryllis sailed in Narragansett Bay... 

In 1876, Nathanael Greene Herreshoff designed the first modern catamaran: Amaryllis. We do not have the drawings of this “double boat”, but it’s interesting to watch the design of his second “double-hulled sailing boat” John Gilpin (1877).

©François Chevalier - John Gilpin 1877 sail plan

On May 1876, Amaryllis was launched from the Herreshoff’s Bristol yard.

©Herreshoff Marine Museum - Amaryllis II, 1933 (Amaryllis - 1876 - replica)

136 years later, on June 2012, the AC45 are racing in Newport waters, not far from Bristol!

©François Chevalier - AC45 lines - 2012

As we explained in a previous post on June 11^th, catamarans are part of the America’s Cup history for many years even if it was necessary to wait more than 135 years to confirm this mysterious connection. 

©University of California - Berkeley/Bancroft Library - Duster 1877, sailing off the San Francisco Yacht Club!

1876... 1877... 2012... What a premonition. The America's Cup legend is still underway!

by Jacques Taglang & François Chevalier