Deadeyes from the first America’s Cup yacht, “America” of 1851. Deadeyes are made from the hard wood lignum vitae which is the preferred material and most costly of woods used to make deadeyes. The pair are 6” in diameter which is the typical size deadeye for a vessel of 100’ which is the approximate length the “America” was.
The pair of deadeyes were recovered by Bunny Rigg, who acquired them from the Schooner yacht America when she was scrapped at Trumpey’s Shipyard after a severe snow storm in the early 1940s. J. Linton “Bunny” Rigg was a well-known yachtsman in Corinthian circles and founder of the Out Island Regatta in the Bahamas. The consignor of these deadeyes is the son of the recipient whom Bunny Rigg sought the deadeyes for. The recipient, a sailing enthusiast and lover of schooners, heard that the America was going to be scrapped and asked Rigg to get him something from it.
With the set of deadeyes comes the notarized document to substantiate the authenticity as well as a book: Yacht Races of the America’s Cup: 1851 - 1893 by A.J. Kenealy