The Velsheda was a J-Class yacht, one of which had great speed and superior design for its debut. The design was created by Charles Nicholson, and was created by Camper & Nicholson in 1933 for owner W.L. Stephenson.

Velsheda was the name Stephenson gave the yacht, from his three daughters Velma, Sheila, and Daphne. It was the sixth J-class boat to be built, and the only one that’s purpose was not solely for the America’s Cup. The boat was on a superior level- racing with high class yachts such as the Shamrock V. It was a very successful boat that won numerous races- more than 40 in the second season. The composition of the boat was very technologically advanced for the time. The masts were made of Aluminum, winches for handling sheets were introduced, and sails were made of new Terylene threads.

The new design may have been technologically advanced, but the yacht could not sail in strong winds- with anything above a Force 3 causing a collapse. Still, in proper wind conditions, the boat out performed may others with ease. This was not enough to take the gold in the America’s Cup, however. This shouldn’t be much of a surprise, since the boat wasn’t originally designed to compete in the America’s Cup.

The Velsheda was one of the more medium-sized boats out of all the competitors. It wasn’t created solely for the America’s Cup, so it was built without taking other America’s Cup boats’ specifications. Even so, it managed to come out with a very well rounded set of features, and was considered technologically advanced for its time. It was what inspired the creation of the Endeavour, as it was one of the fastest boats of its time.

The Velsheda is lucky to be one of the three remaining J-Class yachts that competed. It has dodged scrapping, and was even rescued from a Hamble mud berth in 1984 by Terry Brabant. Fate was dodged again, when a falling tide threatened to capsize the boat. Thankfully, the boat managed to escape the shallow beach of the United Kingdom East coast. The boat eventually fell into a state of disaster, and remained in poor condition. In 1996, the boat was finally restored and re-launched only a year later.

From the recent J Class Regatta, it may have lost to the Endeavour, but the Velsheda remains to be one of the technologically advanced boats of its time. Owner W.L. Stephenson might not have had racing on his mind when he ordered the boat to be designed- but that is certainly what it has become. The boat remains in peak condition, thanks to recent renovations. The J-Class boats of its time are mostly gone- and this valuable piece of history can remind all yachting enthusiasts of where the sport originated. You can still see the yacht competing in races every now and then, which is great for those who aren’t familiar of the time when J-Class yachts were king of the America’s Cup.