Starling W Burgess was 58 years old when Mike Vanderbilt asked him to join forces with the young rising star of American naval architecture, Olin Stephens, aged 28. Of a common accord, the two men each made drawings, the models of which were tested at Hoboken. The contract binding them stipulated that the name of the architect of the defender chosen was to remain secret, with the merit of the final product being attributed to both of them.

The first tank rests were earned out under the supervision of Kenneth Davidson on 4 models, but also on those of Weetamoe and Rainbow and notably the excellent 1934 champion, Endeavour. It was the famous model 77 C which was chosen. Burgess and Stephens tried to improve it but in vain - the model was perfect. The choice of the model of Ranger astonished Burgess, without the test results, no one would have dared choose such a design Ranger became part of the legend. Many people thought for a long time that Ranger could only be the fruit of Olin Stephens' talent. Even Harold S. Vanderbilt was convinced. We must acknowledge Olin Stephens' honesty when be told a journalist in 1956 that the model picked to become Ranger was in fact a William Starling Burgess model.

So just like his father in 1885, 1886, and 1887 Starling had designed three victorious defenders. After 1837, Starling designed a few more yachts, along with Yankee. Ranger was the last American J-Class to be scrapped in 1941. Burgess retired the same year. This great figure in naval architecture during the first part of the 20th century, poet at limes (Le Rire Eternel. 1905), aviation pioneer, inventor, motor car designer, and married five times, passed away in 1947 at the age of 69.

Deck of John Hanks' "Ranger" near Phoenix, AZ. Photo Copyright © 2000, Makoto Iwai.

John Hanks' "Ranger" sailing near Phoenix, AZ. Photo Copyright © 2000, Makoto Iwai