Livonia (yacht)

Livonia was the second, unsuccessful, challenger attempting to lift the America's Cup from the New York Yacht Club.

Livonia
Livonia, Lithograph by T.G.Dutton after A.W.Fowles
Yacht club Royal Harwich Yacht Club
Nation United Kingdom
BuilderMichael Ratsey
Launched6 April 1871
Owner(s)James Lloyd Ashbury
Racing career
America's Cup1871
Specifications
TypeMonohull

Design

Having unsuccessfully challenged for the America's Cup in Cambria in 1868, James Lloyd Ashbury again commissioned Michael Ratsey of Cowes to build a new yacht. Livonia was based on the lines of Sappho, and was launched on 6 April 1871.[1] Ashbury took his new yacht across the Atlantic to once again challenge for the America's Cup, this time on behalf of the Royal Harwich Yacht Club.

Career

The 1871 America's Cup race was involved in controversy. There was disagreement over the format of the competition, with Ashbury seeking legal advice. Eventually it was agreed that the first yacht to win four races would be the victor. Livonia was opposed by Franklin Osgood's Columbia. Columbia won the first two races, although Ashbury claimed the second on a technicality. Livonia won the third race with the Columbia being damaged. Sappho was chosen to replace the Columbia to continue the challenge and subsequently won the next two races and thus defended the cup for the New York Club.

Ashbury refused to accept the decision, claiming to have won two races to the Americans' three and declared that he would continue racing. As no challengers appeared he claimed the final two races and demanded the cup. He returned to the United Kingdom without the trophy accusing the New York Yacht Club of engaging in "unfair and unsportsmanlike proceedings". The club responded by returning a number of trophies he had donated in the previous year.[2]

In July 1872, Livonia ran aground at Havre de Grâce, Seine-Inférieure, France. She was refloated and taken in to Southampton, Hampshire, where she arrived on 15 July.[3]

References
  1. "Livonia". 32nd America's Cup. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  2. Ross, Hamish G. "The First - James Lloyd Ashbury (1834-1895)". America's Cup History. Allinghi. Archived from the original on 2011-01-05. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  3. "Yachting Intelligence". Southampton Herald. Vol. 49, no. 2722. Southampton. 17 July 1872. p. 3.
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