Charlie Barr

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Charlie Barr (1864-1911)[1]. was an accomplished sailing skipper who captained the winning yacht in the America's Cup three times. Born in Gourock, Scotland in 1864, he first apprenticed as a grocer before working as a commercial fisherman. In 1884, he took a job with his older brother John, delivering a sailing yacht, Clara, to America. Clara's racing success was such that in 1887, John was selected to skipper the British challenger, Thistle (yacht), the representative of the Royal Clyde Yacht Club; Charlie served as a member of the crew. Thistle was soundly defeated by Volunteer (yacht). In the process, however, the brothers Barr were introduced to Nathanael Herreshoff, and Charlie Barr's yachting career was launched. Charlie Barr would sail Herreshoff-designs for much of the rest of his professional sailing life.

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[edit] America's Cup success

Captain Charles Barr was skipper of the yacht Columbia in 1899 and defeated Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock. Two years later, in 1901, Charlie Barr was again at the helm against a Lipton sponsored racing machine, Shamrock II, a 137 foot George Lennox Watson-designed cutter. In 1903, Barr was the captain of the winning yacht Reliance, one of the most famous racing yachts to be designed by Nathanael Herreshoff.

[edit] Atlantic record

He is best known for setting the record for the fastest crossing by a sailing yacht of the Atlantic Ocean on the schooner named the Atlantic in legendary 1905 Kaiser's Cup Transatlantic Race. Barr made his crossing in 12 days, 4 hours, 1 minute, 19 seconds, a sailing record that stood for 75 years.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ CAPT CHARLES BARR, NOTED SKIPPER, DEAD. New York Times (1911-01-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-05.


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