It's incredible to think that the next America's Cup, an event that was once governed by the designs of Nathaniel Herreshoff, will be sailed in mutli-hulls. In 1876, "Captain Nat" saw the speed, excitement and promise in these designs and launched Amaryllis - a 30 foot catamaran. He sailed Amaryllis from Bristol to New York in 14 hours (a record) and then entered her in a race. Nobody took exception to this "outlandish" design until she handily beat the entire fleet and he was consequently banned from racing it.
So Today's Sail goes out to Amaryllis and the Wizard of Bristol. A visionary pair that is still influencing the sport of sailing today.
SailFast Fact - Hereshoff received the first U.S. patent on catamaran sailboats in 1876
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