The yacht COLUMBIA a wooden centreboard schooner who was designed and built by Joseph B. Van Deusen in Chester, Pa. for Franklin Osgood of the New York Yacht Club.
Completed under the name COLUMBIA.
Displacement 220 tons, dim. 34.1 x 7.7 x 1.8m. (draught), length on water line 29.4 metre.
Sail area is unknown.
She was the defender of the America Cup in 1871 against the yacht LIVONIA in the waters off New York.
She was skippered by Andrew J. Comstock.
The first race was won by the COLUMBIA with a wide margin of 27 minutes and 04 seconds.
18 October 1871 the second race took place between the two yachts and again was the winner the COLUMBIA.
19 October 1871 the third race took part but a new skipper Horatio N. Comstock had taken over due that Andrew Comstock was injured.
During the race the flying jib of the COLUMBIA took away and she damaged her rudder, and the race was easily won by the LIVONIA.
It was not more possible that she was used in the races, and the next race the defender was the SAPPHO, and she won the America Cup again for the USA.
In 1908 was she dismasted and that was her end of her race career.
Then used as a houseboat in Brooklyn Harbor on the East River.
1911 Rebuilt as a cruiser and sailed out of Newport News, VA.
1920 was she bought by a fisherman.
1923 It was declared lost.
Solomon Islands 1986 30c sg570, scott570e.
Source: Wikipedia. The Story of the America Cup 1851-2003 by Thompson and Rayner.