Cup History: Ugly Duckling almost pulled off win

Back in 1920

"Even Babe Ruth and his home run record had to take second place to yacht races in the public interest." - New York Times.

Sir Thomas Lipton was on his way across the Atlantic, his steamboat towing the Shamrock IV, when he picked up a wireless message from a German ship saying the First World War had been declared.

It would be another six years before the Shamrock IV, sitting waiting in the New York docks, would get to race in the America's Cup.

Lipton had tried to challenge New York for a fourth time in 1907 under rules which governed the size of the boats. New York refused again and again.

In 1913, "for the fun of it," he challenged again - and was finally accepted.

He asked the brilliant English designer, Charles Nicholson, to draw up his new boat.

She was nicknamed the Ugly Duckling. Bigger than the defender, she carried more sail area and had to carry a penalty of seven minutes. But she was a very powerful boat.

During her six-year lay-off in New York, her Russian plywood hull warped and had to be refitted.

To save weight, she was gutted down below. This almost caused a mutiny among the crew, when there were no tea-making facilities.

Meanwhile, New York had built three defenders - Vanitie, Defiance and Resolute. Built by Nathanael Herreshoff, Resolute won the trials.

Shamrock won the first two races of the cup match -- Resolute's main halyard broke and she retired in the first race, while the British boat won the second by almost 10 minutes despite a torn jib.

But the tide turned from then on. In race three, the boats crossed the finish line together, Resolute winning on handicap, before the Americans won the last two races.