Sceptre 1958
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    • History
      • Sceptre Stories
      • 1851: The First America's Cup
      • 1956-57: Sceptre's Beginnings
      • 1958: the 17th America's Cup
      • 1959-64: Sceptre's Success
      • 1967-68: Sceptre back in the USA
      • 1972: Mr E A King's plans
      • 1975-1985: Tony Walker's Sceptre conversion project
      • 1986-Present: Sceptre Preservation Society
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      • Recent Years' Highlights
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    • Major Works, Improvements and New Equipment
      • Dropping the Ballast, 2013
      • Strengthening the Bow, 2009
      • New Ring Beam, 2007
      • New Rudder, 2007
      • Refitting the Counter, 2003
    • Specification
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    Sceptre's History

    Sceptre through the years

    1851
    Sceptre, an International 12 Metre Class yacht, was built for the Royal Yacht Squadron as the 17th challenger for the America’s Cup in 1958, a series of seven races held in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.  She was soundly beaten by the defender Columbia, but then went on to be a very successful racing yacht in the 1960s.  She was converted to a cruising yacht between 1978-86, and since then has been owned and sailed, predominantly in British waters, by the Sceptre Preservation Society.
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    Sceptre's Launch, April 1958
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    The America's Cup, Sceptre and Columbia - Life Magazine
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    The America's Cup, Columbia to windward of Sceptre - by Richard M Firth
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    Sceptre 1961, HRH Duke of Edinburgh at the helm - Beken

    Sceptre Preservation Society

    The Sceptre Preservation Society’s aims are:

    To preserve, maintain and improve Sceptre, so that Members can enjoy cruising and racing together and with friends, predominantly in UK waters, with funding through charters to ensure that Sceptre is in the public eye and remains part of the UK’s sailing heritage.

    If you would like to join us, or have any questions about our beautiful yacht, please contact us through this form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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