Eagle 12 US 60

Designed by Johan Valentijn – Built by Williams & Manchester Shipyard, 1986

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Eagle (US 60) was built in 1986 for the Eagle Challenge Foundation, based in Newport Harbor, California, to compete in the 1987 Louis Vuitton Cup—the Challenger Series for the America’s Cup. Designed by Johan Valentijn, she was one of the most technologically ambitious 12 Metres ever produced in the United States.

Constructed at Williams & Manchester Shipyard, Eagle incorporated the latest innovations of the modern 12 Metre era: lightweight aluminum alloy structure, a winged keel inspired by the Australian design breakthrough of 1983, and advanced aerodynamic rigging. Her sleek hull lines were optimized for the Fremantle conditions of strong winds and open-sea swell, with a deeper draft and wider stern for improved downwind stability.

CAMPAIGN AND RACING HISTORY

Eagle served as one of several U.S. challengers during the 1986–1987 America’s Cup campaign, representing the final years of the 12 Metre rule in Cup competition. She trained alongside other American boats at Newport Beach and later Fremantle, where she participated in the early rounds of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Although she demonstrated flashes of speed, Eagle did not advance to the final stages of the Challenger Series. Her campaign nevertheless contributed valuable design and performance data that informed subsequent 12 Metre developments. The syndicate’s focus on research and construction precision left an enduring mark on American yacht design just before the class was retired from the Cup.

LATER YEARS AND FATE

After the Fremantle campaign, Eagle US 60 was retained briefly for testing and design comparison but did not return to active racing. By the early 1990s she was listed in European and American 12 Metre registries as inactive, and by 1994 she was recorded as dismantled. No record exists of restoration or museum preservation, suggesting that she was broken up following decommissioning.

LEGACY

Though her competitive career was brief, Eagle US 60 symbolizes the culmination of 12 Metre design evolution—a boat built at the height of technical innovation, just before the America’s Cup moved on to larger and more experimental classes. She represents the last generation of 12 Metres to race under the Cup banner, bridging the era between classic craftsmanship and modern engineering.