John Steven Dews

Endeavour, a 130-foot J Class sloop, was commissioned by Sir T.O.M. Sopwith and built by Camper & Nicholson at Gosport England to challenge for the America's Cup in 1934.  Sopwith was keen to ensure that this yacht was the most advanced design possible. With his experience designing aircraft, Sopwith applied aviation technology to Endeavour's rig, sparing nothing to make her the finest vessel of her day.  Although she did not win the America’s Cup, she came closer than any other challenger had up to that time and dominated the British racing fleet.  From launching in 1934 she competed against the fastest vessels of her day, including Shamrock V and the newly launched Velsheda (owned by W. L. Stephenson).

Designed by Charles Nicholson and built by Camper & Nicholson in 1933 for Mr. W.L. Stephenson, owner of the original "ten cents store," Woolworth's, Velsheda was built in 1933 at Gosport. She was Nicholson's second design for a J Class and Stephenson's second big yacht.  Like Endeavour, she represented a marvel of advanced technical design. Particularly innovative was her aluminum mast.  Stephenson had named Velsheda after his three daughters, Velma, Sheila and Daphne. She raced with the greatest names in classic yachting including Britannia, Endeavour and Shamrock between 1933 and 1936.  In her second season she won more than forty races and achieved an outstanding record of success at regattas from Southend to Dartmouth, all under the control of the famed Captain Mountfield.

Despite their fame, both Endeavour and Velsheda narrowly escaped destruction through neglect.  Only through recent efforts since the 1980s to restore J boats and other classic yachts have these magnificent vessels been preserved so that they may race again.