12M 'ENTERPRISE'
€POA
Specification
Sparkman & Stephens
1977
Newport Rhode Island, USA 🇺🇸
US Duty Paid 🇺🇸
LOA: 20.15m (66ft 1in)
LWL: 13.41m (44ft 0in)
Beam: 3.78m (12ft 5in)
Draught: 3.78m (12ft 5in)
Displacement: 25.7 tonnes
Sail area: 168m2 (1,808ft2)
Design: Sparkman & Stephens
Year: 1977
Builder: Minneford Yacht Yard, Inc.
Description
Designed by Sparkman & Stephens (Olin Stephens & David Pedrick) and built of aluminum at Minneford
Yacht Yard in 1977, Enterprise (US-27) was conceived as an “improved Courageous” for the 23rd America’s
Cup. Pioneering in both hull design and sail technology, she remains one of the most innovative Twelves ever built — and today is among the best-prepared Modern Division 12 Metres in the world.
Enterprise (US-27) blends America’s Cup heritage with modern race-ready performance. Fully refit and actively campaigned, she remains a standout in the 12 Metre fleet.
Vessel History:
- America’s Cup Heritage – Built for the 1977 Cup defense, skippered by Lowell North. Innovative Design - First 12 Metre to undergo large-scale tank testing; first to use laminate sails.
- Proven Race Record – Winner of NYYC’s Lipton Memorial Trophy and Caritas Cup; 2nd place in the Modern Division at the 2019 12mR Worlds.
- Extensive Refit – New keel, spade rudder, modern deck, carbon systems, and race-ready rig by New England Boatworks.
- Actively Campaigned – Maintained by the US Merchant Marine Academy Sailing Foundation and sailed by David Askew.
Boat Video
Upgrades & Modifications
Virtually everything on Enterprise was upgraded or replaced — except the hull and original framework — during a two-year refit ahead of the 2019 12 Metre World Championship.
Spars & Rigging
New aluminum mast (class-compliant)
Extensive use of carbon fiber for spars, fittings, and support structures
Foretriangle “J” dimension restored to 24 ft, correcting original design limitation
Modernized sail handling systems, including TP52-style spinnaker take-down through forward hatch
Construction
Redesigned deck with new cockpits, spinnaker pole trough, and chainplate structures
Cockpit lowered for better grinder ergonomics and improved boom clearance
Optimized working deck layout with spartan, carbon-enhanced detailing
Keel, Rudder & Steering
New keel design developed with Sparkman & Stephens and David Pedrick
Replacement of original barn-door rudder with a modern spade rudder
Hardware & Exterior
All-new Harken hydraulics integrated throughout
Custom carbon trumpets for clean, efficient control line runs
Halyard reels upgraded with ratchet-based systems for effortless hoists and drops
Pedestal-driven rotary pump added to power hydraulics during racing
Streamlined traveler and mainsheet systems, including a Harken “magic wheel” below decks
Interior
Engine, Mechanical
& Electrical
Electronics
Covers
Safety
Sails
Extras
Results Snapshot
2023 12 Metre Pre-Worlds: Won the Modern Division of the Pre-Worlds in Newport, RI, sailing under the US-27 sail number.
2019 12 Metre World Championship: Achieved second place in the Modern Division, completing the nine-race series with two firstplace finishes.
Earlier Achievements (1977–1980)
Won the Lipton Memorial Trophy (NYYC, 1977) and Caritas Cup (NYYC, 1977 & 1980) in New York. (From your supplied history)
Served as trial horse to Freedom in the 1980 Cup program. (From your history)
