Built as a centreboard compromise sloop by Harland & Hollingsworth, Wilmington, Delaware.
The yacht was designed by Archibald Cary Smith for the British owner Joseph Richard Busk of the New York Yacht Club.
1879 Launched as the MISCHIEF.
Displacement 79.2 tons, dim. 20.57 x 6.00 x 1.62m. (draught), length on waterline 18.50m.
Sail area 487 m².
She was the second all iron hulled boat built in the USA, nicknamed “The Iron Pot”.
1881 She was the defender yacht of the third America Cup race against the Canadian yacht ATALANTA under skipper Alexander Cuthbert.
The race took place in the waters off New York.
09 November 1880 the first race took place between the MISCHIEF under skipper Nathaniel Clock and the ATLANTA which easily was won by the MISCHIEF with a lead of 28 minutes and 30 seconds.
The second race was also a disaster for the Canadian yacht who lost their spinnaker pole, and finished over 40 minutes behind the MISCHIEF. Again the Cup stayed in the USA.
From 1884 till 1904 the MISCHIEF had four different owners.
1904 She was inspected off the coast off New Scotland (Nova Scotia), Canada. It was suspected being used for smuggling between the USA and Canada.
After two years of uncertain status due to its seizure, MISCHIEF was no longer registered as a yacht.
1906 Sold to Mayflower Oil Company, thereafter used as a barge for the transport of oil in the Boston Area.
1929 She was abandoned, several passionate Boston yachtsmen pooled their resources to buy the wreck.
26 May 1929 under tow of a US navy tug the hull was towed out to sea. After a last salute by more as twenty yachts representing the most prestigious East Coast yacht clubs, they tried to scuttle the MISCHIEF, without success.
With the help of the USSCG MOJAVE who used her guns at least she was scuttled.
Dominica 1987 $1 sg1054, scott?
Grenadines of Grenada 1992 15c sg1578, scott1475.
Solomon Islands 1986 18c sg570a, scott?
Source: http://www.jsjohnston.org/~mischief.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mischief_(yacht)
The Story of the America Cup 1851-2003 by Thompson & Rayner.
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