The AMERICA’S CUP Selected Half Hull Models – MISCHIEF
>PRESENTATION HALF HULL MODEL
The America’s Cup Early Contestants
Sailing
Yacht MISCHIEF>LIMITED EDITION!All
of our half models of this edition are handcrafted by highly trained artisans, and
are constructed from scratch using the labor intensive, plank on bulkhead method of construction. They are true
to the originals in all details. All the numerous operations are painstakingly done by hand including fitting
individual planks, carefully faring the lines, and finely painting the hull, bottom paint, and then clear coating the
entire hull in an ultra high gloss enamel. Finally, they are mounted on a Matt finished custom backboard with a
black and gold name plate. 
Our in-house sailing expert,
with a long history of ocean racing and sailing experience as licensed Master, has selected these special half hulls
because they represent artistic renderings of designs that are truly beautiful as well as being functional for the purpose
they served in the America’s Cup competition.<
29″ x 7 1/2″ x 1/2″ Length hull<> 25″ x 3 1/4″ x 2 1/2″
Weight 4 lb 3 oz
Our first selection
of this special group of presentation half models is the 68 foot iron hulled sailing yacht MISCHIEF
, a centerboard sloop which was designed by Archibald Cary Smith and built by Harlan & Hollingsworth of Wilmington,
Delaware in 1879. She was captained by Nathianal Clock to an easy victory in this mismatched series which precipitated
changes to the deed of gift..
<
Looking
from the bow
MISCHIEF&;was built&;for
the English owner Joseph Richard Busk of Newport, Rhode Island and a member of the New York Yacht Club. She was
the second all-metal yacht to be built in the United States, fittingly nicknamed, The Iron Pot. The nationality clause
of the defender, so important to the New York Yacht Club in the coming years, was not enforced in the early years. Mischief
easily beat the Canadian challenger, ATALANTA by wide margins in what was an uneventful two races. Though the series
was not of much interest because of the mismatch between the contenders, it took an important place in the history
of the America’s Cup. As a result of the difficulties encountered by and because of the challenger, the members
of the New York Yacht Club Selection Committee decided the rules of the race needed modification. Consequently,
the trophy was returned to the sole survivor of the ”America” syndicate, George Schuyler, who amended the Deed of Gift
to include that the owner of a contender had to be a citizen of the country of the vessel’s registration, and
that the vessel had to sail to the competition on its own bottom.
<
Her racing lines and centerboard From 1884 until
1904, Mischief had four different owners and was suspected of smuggling between Canada and the United States and was seized
by Canadian Customs. After two years of being held in custody, her registration lapsed. She was sold to the
Mayflower Oil Company in 1906 who used the iron hull as a barge and for transporting oil in the Boston area.
In 1929, she was abandoned. Several
passionate Boston yachtsmen pooled their resources to buy the wreck. On May 26th, 1929, the hull was towed offshore by an
US Navy tug. After a last salute, the yachtsman owners tried to scuttle her without success. They called in the
Navy warship Mojave which used shell fire and Mischief sank ‘decently’ before more than twenty
yachts representing the most prestigious East coast yacht clubs.
From Howard Chappell’s, History
of American Sailing Ships
