Design 1834 - Intrepid

One description has been repeatedly used to describe the 12-meter racing yacht Intrepid: a breakthrough yacht. Built to the Third International Rule, Intrepid (US22) was constructed of wood by the Minneford Yacht Yard of City Island and launched in 1967. She successfully defended the America"s Cup in both 1967 and 1970.


Her extensive tank test program at the Davidson Laboratory at the Stevens Institute in Hoboken, New Jersey, included eight models, 35 modifications and 18-months of work. Here's a rather poor quality image of Olin at the towing tank at the time.


Intrepid was the first 12-meter to use a separate keel (with trim tab) and rudder successfully. Her knuckle bow was an innovation as was the placement of much of her deck gear (and crew) below decks, allowing the boom to be lowered dramatically, and thus also lowering her center of gravity. This included her coffee grinder winches. Here's a diagram from a 1967 Time magazine article which demonstrates this arrangement well.


Here is a nice image - her chief designer contemplating what is to come as she exits the building shed.


And the moment of her launch.


Here are the plans. I apologize for the poor quality of the deck plan. I will try to find a better copy when I am back in the office on Monday.

Principal Dimensions
LOA 64'-0"
LWL 48'-0"
Beam 12'-3"
Draft 9'-0"
Displacement 60,000 lbs
Ballast 39,000 lbs
Sail Area 1,756 sq ft

She is currently on the used boat market. Information and additional images can be found by clicking here. More information can also be found on our website by clicking here.