Participants and viewers of the Tenth Anniversary Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta were treated to a rare sight— not just one hut two replicas of the famous yacht America. racing as gloriously as the original. It’s a sight few will forget.

Surely the most famous yacht in history. the America that inspired the America’s Cup Races was crushed by snow ashore in 1942, but the two new yachts maintain her tradition.

Both yachts are wooden gaff schooners, and both look magnificent as they sail. There are significant differences between the two, and neither is an exact copy of George Steers’ original design, but are adapted to present conditions and circumstances.

One, called simply America, was built in 1967 by Goudy & Stephen of East Boothbay, Maine for the movie Sail to Glory. She was financed by Schaefer Brewing Company, and built quickly but well with a basic interior. Donated to Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy, she was sold to Friendly Ice Cream Company, then to an Argentine owner who spent $300,000 her original cost to convert her to a yacht. She was then sold to a Spanish aristocrat who found her upkeep a daunting task, and in 1996, Paul Deeth of Antigua bought her and spent a year restoring her to her present superb shape at Antigua Slipway.

America. which ironically is registered in the U.K., measures 130 feet overall, 91 feet on the waterline, and displaces 99 gross tons. Her beam is 23 feet, draft is 12 feet and sail area an impressive 5,587 square feet. She also has the original full keel, a feature designers found optimum for the split schooner sail plan. She participated in the Atlantic Challenge Cup across the Atlantic after Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta.

The other America — America USA — is a new boat, launched in 1995 at Scarano Boat Building in Albany, N.Y. She is the dream of restaurateur Ray Giovannoni of an ambassador to inspire interest in sailing and act as an ambassador to yachting events in the U.S. and overseas. Slightly larger than the other classic reproduction, she measures 139 feet overall, is also 91 feet on the waterline, but has a beam of 25 feet and draft of only 10 feet. More authentic on deck, her most controversial feature is a modern fin keel, which reportedly makes her a handful in strong winds even without her 6,400 sq. ft. of sail.

America USA can be seen at boat shows and taking out novices for day sails, but she spent much of 1997 after the Classic Yacht Regatta showing the American Ensign cruising the Mediterranean and participating in regattas.

Because of the different configurations and ages, the yachts didn’t directly compete in Classic Races, but both were outstanding additions to the racing pageantry, and a delight to everyone who saw them sail.