System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Harold Vanderbilt, American Sailor-American Cup Winner
July 06, 1884 - July 04, 1970
Harold Sterling "Mike" Vanderbilt was born on July 6, 1884. Vanderbilt was the great grandson of famous sea captain, railroad founder and fortune builder Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, who lived between 1794 and 1877. Successive generations of Vanderbilts continued to run the railroad and grow the family fortunes.
The Vanderbilts were part of a world of luxury and excess. As children, Harold, his sister, Consuelo, and his brother, William K. II, witnessed the lavish parties and elaborate balls staged by their mother for her advancement into New York Society and her fierce competition with Mrs. (Lady) Astor, long time Queen of New York. Their home was the storied Vanderbilt Chateau at 660 Fifth Avenue in New York City, and they summered at "Idlehour", on Long Island. They also visited their cousins at "The Breakers" in Newport, RI when they were in residence at "Marble House".
Vanderbilt, who received a Law Degree at Harvard, began investing in J-boats for the defense of the America’s Cup. He successfully defended three times, Enterprise (1930), Rainbow (1934), and the mighty Ranger (1937), last of the J-Class.
In 1934, sailing Rainbow, Vanderbilt had a tiger by the tale with challenger Endeavour, which won the first two races of the series. Vanderbilt, who helmed for all three defenses, and tactician Sherman Hoyt, battled back against the well-sailed Endeavour, and won the next three races, defeating one of the strongest challenges to the Cup up to that point.
A good sailor and tactician, Vanderbilt also won six King's Cups and five Astor Cups between 1922 and 1938, and helped create the racing rules as we know them today. He was the first to develop the timed start, forever known as the Vanderbilt start.
Yachting was not Harold's only passion. His great grandfather, the Commodore, was an inveterate card player, and some of his cousins and uncles were serious gamblers. Harold is credited with inventing and refining the game of Contract Bridge in 1926 - partly at his yacht club and partly on board NYC 3!
Vanderbilt died on July 4, 1970 at age 85.
