The owner of the big White Heather, W.E. Stephenson announced his intention in 1933 to build a new J Class. Charles E. Nicholson had built a splendid steel yacht for him, Velsheda (this was the first time in Great Britain since 1913). It could be seen from her first outings that she was a possible challenger for the America's Cup. T.O.M. Sopwith, Shamrock V's owner, decided to enter the fray. He ordered a new J Class from Nicholson, Endeavour. Nicholson designed his most fabulous challenger and only just missed taking the Cup from Rainbow.

It must be said that Sopwith's completion of Nicholson's work was perfect, assisted by engineer Frank Murdoch. An aeronautics engineer, Murdoch worked on the rigging design. This scientific approach contrasted with Nicholson's more conventional one, who announced that Endeavour's hull was of the most ordinary; she was not even tank tested. The combination of these two approaches gave an excellent result - Endeavour was quite simply the fastest J Class of 1934 but was still beaten by Rainbow who was a slower boat.

In 1937, on July 39th. Endeavour was, with Yankee, the only J Class in the season to beat Ranger, the Super J. Endeavour was simply Charles E. Nicholson's masterpiece.

Deck of K.N. Jack David's "Endeavour" near Phoenix, AZ. Photo Copyright © 2000, Makoto Iwai.

K.N. Jack David's "Endeavour" sailing near Phoenix, AZ. Photo Copyright © 2000, Makoto Iwai