Mariner 12 US 25

Design & Construction

Mariner (sail number US-25) was built to the International Third Rule as an America’s Cup defender candidate. She was designed by Britton Chance and constructed in aluminium alloy, making her—together with Courageous—one of the first American Twelve Metres built in aluminium. This marked a major departure from traditional wood and steel construction and represented a bold step toward lighter, more experimental structures in the class.

The design was highly innovative and incorporated several radical concepts aimed at reducing drag and wetted surface, including:

  • A pronounced bow bustle

  • A low-drag keel

  • A squared-off stern termination, often referred to as a “fast-back stern”

While theoretically efficient, the stern geometry proved problematic in practice, producing significant turbulence aft.

America’s Cup Campaign

Despite her advanced construction and innovative hull form, Mariner proved uncompetitive in racing conditions. Both Ted Turner and Dennis Conner served as skippers during her campaign, yet neither was able to overcome the yacht’s inherent performance limitations.

As a result, Mariner was eliminated from the Defender Trials for the 22nd America’s Cup, never advancing to challenge level competition.

Ownership and Service History

  • 1974–1975:
    Owner: Kings Point Fund, Inc. / United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA)
    Name: Mariner
    Home Port: Kings Point, New York

  • 1976–1989:
    Continued association with Kings Point / USMMA, where she served as a high-profile training and demonstration yacht and remained an important educational asset despite her racing shortcomings.

  • <1993–1994:
    Owner: Charles S. Conway
    Home Port: Oyster Bay, New York

  • c. 1995:
    Owner: Arthur J. Kappelle
    Home Port: New Smyrna Beach, Florida

  • 1999:
    Reportedly converted to an IMS cruiser/racer at Derecktor Shipyard, reflecting a final attempt to repurpose the yacht outside the Twelve Metre rule.

Loss

Following her conversion and Florida ownership, Mariner was lost ashore off Palm Beach, Florida, where she stranded on the beach and was ultimately written off as a total loss.

Historical Significance

Although unsuccessful as a racing yacht, Mariner remains historically important as:

  • One of the first aluminium American Twelve Metres

  • A bold but flawed experiment in late-era Third Rule design

  • A reminder that technical innovation does not always translate into performance

  • A yacht closely associated with major figures of the America’s Cup, including Ted Turner and Dennis Conner