Reliance (yacht)

The design took advantage of a loophole in the Seawanhaka "90-foot" rating rule, to produce a racing yacht with long overhangs at each end, so that when heeled over, her waterline length increased dramatically. Because a boat's hull speed is a function of its waterline length, Reliance's top speed therefore was dramatically higher. To save weight, she was completely unfinished below deck, with exposed frames. Reliance was the first racing boat to be fitted with winches below decks, in an era when her competitors relied on sheer man-power. Despite this a crew of 64 was required for racing due to the large sail plan. From the tip of her bowsprit to the end of her boom, Reliance measured , and the tip of her mast was above the water (the height of a 20-story building). Reliance was built for one purpose: to successfully defend the America's Cup. {{Gallery ==Career==

Her racing career was extraordinarily brief – and undefeated. She bested her America's Cup challenger, Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock III, designed by William Fife, in all three races, with Shamrock III losing by such a margin in the third that she was forced to retire. Reliances designer, Nathanael Herreshoff, immediately proposed the Universal rating rule to avoid such extreme, dangerous and expensive vessels, which made Reliance an inadequate contestant in subsequent races. There was much speculation as to whether Reliances victory was due to the design of the yacht or the skill of Charlie Barr in sailing her. Lipton himself proposed to allow the two boats to swap crew after the race to decide the matter, but the offer was refused by the owners of Reliance. Her very successful career was short-lived, and she was sold for scrap in 1913. ==References==