Cup History: Chivalrous Brit a hero to America

Back in 1885

"We want a race; we don't want a boilover." - Sir Richard Sutton, owner of British challenger Genesta.


British challenger Sir Richard Sutton became an American hero for one of the great, rare acts of chivalry in the America's Cup.

Sutton, from the Royal Yacht Squadron, came to New York in 1885 with his natty cutter Genesta after a 14-year British boycott.

In their absence the Brits had developed the spirited cutters, spurring the Americans into design action.

The New York Yacht Club sent out invitations to every yacht club in the country asking for help.

A Young Bostonian, Edward Burgess, came up with the pioneering Puritan, a cross between a cutter and a sloop.

There was much excitement on the streets of New York for the clash - the New York Times devoted four columns on the front page to a race that was abandoned.

Huge bets were placed. One Wall St punter tried to put $5000 on Puritan to win. The British were only tempted to wager in hats, rather than cash.

For the first time in the cup, there was secrecy over design. The British put a guard on the gate to their dock, and would only allow entry to those with a special card.

The curious New Yorkers were not impressed. Designer J. Beavor-Webb joked he had put a motor on Genesta's keel.

Race one was postponed four times, three times because of the weather. But the other occasion goes down in the history books as one of the rare moments of courtesy in cup contests.

In a feisty pre-start, Puritan miscalculated and Genesta held right of way. Her bowsprit plunged through Puritan's mainsail, ripping both off the boats.

The American boat was disqualified, but Sutton refused to accept the race on those grounds and pulled out. He became an American hero overnight.

Puritan won the re-race by 16 minutes, but the second encounter was the closest so far, Genesta losing by a mere 1m 38s.