| Genesta |
 |
| Rig Class. | Cutter |
| General characteristics |
| Ton: | 84 tons |
| Beam: | |
Challenger in 1885 for the America's Cup.
1885
GENESTA LOSES 2-0 TO PURITAN
After two challenges from the Canadians - when the NYYC agreed that, from now on, there would just be one pre-selected defender - the next British challenger was Genesta. She was designed by J Beavor-Webb and built of oak planking on steel frames, the first composite America's Cup boat. She had a straight stem and long counter, and her narrow beam and deep draught were even more exaggerated than that of her predecessors, very much a reflection of the British Tonnage Rule of the time.
Her designer was extremely secretive about her lines, not allowing any outsiders to see her when she was dry-docked in America.
In the first race in the best-of-three series, there was a straightforward port and starboard incident at the start. American defender Puritan was immediately disqualified but Genesta's owner, Sir Richard Sutton, sportingly declined to sail over the course and claim a win. Puritan won the next race easily, and the one after that by enough to retain the Cup.
Owners