Endeavour II was the first America's Cup challenger since the second challenge in 1871 to be launched more than a year before the race. Her owner, TOM Sopwith, was thought to be the better prepared especially as the yacht had the exceptional training partner Endeavour I (1934) which failed to win the Cup in 1934 against Rainbow.
She was laid down on 1 February 1936 with the casting of her 90 ton lead ballast keel, and she was launched on 8 June.
Her first race was on 24 June off Falmouth and then she competed in the 1936 yachting season. Both she and Velsheda were dismasted off Plymouth on 2 July, and she was dismasted again on 4 August at the start of Cowes Week.
In 1937, both Endeavour I and Endeavour II crossed the Atlantic to Newport, reaching the United States at the end of May. During their sailing trials, both yachts were linked by radio.
She was comprehensively beaten by Ranger during the America's Cup series between 31 July and 5 August, and sailed back to the UK in September.
In 1938 she was laid up at Camper & Nicholson’s yard in Gosport, and was sold for scrap in 1947. Her hulk remained sitting in the mud until 1968 when she was broken up.
After completing the rebuilds of Endeavour, Shamrock V and Velsheda and the refit of Ranger, Dykstra & Partners took on their first J Class new build with Hanuman an exact replica of Endeavour II.
Hanuman is named after the son of the Hindu wind god, a symbol of strength, perseverance and devotion