Model of The J Class Yacht 'Endeavour'

A majestic scale model of Tommy Sopwith's 1934 J Class. With painted hull, detailed deck, mast & rigging and fixed to original aluminium and wood stand. The sails are newly made copies of the originals.

Dimensions: 91 cm/36 inches (length) x 122 cm/48 inches (height on stand) x 23 cm/9 inches (width)

Endeavour is a 130-foot (40 m) J-class yacht built for the 1934 America's Cup by Camper and Nicholson in Gosport, England. She was built for Sir Thomas Sopwith who used his aviation design expertise to ensure the yacht was the most advanced of its day with a steel hull and mast. She was launched in 1934 and won many races in her first season including competitions against the J's Velsheda and Shamrock V. She failed in her America's Cup challenge against the American defender Rainbow but came closer to lifting the cup than any other contender until 1983 when Australia II succeeded the first winning challenge to the New York Yacht Club, which had successfully defended the cup over a period of 132 years.

Endeavour was designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson. Her design pioneered the Quadrilateral genoa, a twin clewed headsail offering great sail area and consequent power. This design is still in use in the J's today. The boat also featured a larger and improved spinnaker.

Endeavour challenged for the 1934 America's Cup and raced New York Yacht Club defender Rainbow. However, the campaign was blighted by a strike of Sopwith's professional crew prior to departing for America. Forced to rely mainly on keen amateurs, who lacked the necessary experience, the campaign failed. Rainbow won with 4–2. This was one of the most contentious of the America's Cup battles and prompted the headline "Britannia rules the waves and America waives the rules.”

Following the America's Cup, she dominated the British sailing scene until, whilst being towed across the Atlantic to Britain in September 1937, she broke loose from her tow and was feared lost, the hulk was eventually found and returned to England where she was laid up. For 46 years Endeavour languished through a variety of owners.

In 1984 she was bought by Elizabeth Meyer who had her rebuilt and restored. In September that year she raced in the first J-class race in over 50 years, joining the only other surviving original J-class yachts Velsheda and Shamrock V.