Endymion (yacht)


Endymion was an American schooner owned by George Lauder Jr., son of billionaire George Lauder. Lauder Jr. was Commodore of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. Endymion and her crew won many races and owned several records during her era. The most notable of her records, held for five years, was the Transatlantic crossing record set in 1900 of 13 days 20 hours 36 minutes.

Origin

The two masted schooner Endymion was designed by C.H. Crane of Tam, Lemoine, and Crane of New York City and built at the George Lawley & Son shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts. Originally commissioned for a prominent New York lawyer named George Lord Day, he passed away before she launched and was sold to professional yachtsman George Lauder Jr. of the Lauder Greenway Family in January 1899.

Etymology of the name

The yacht is named for Endymion, from Greek mythology. There is some debate as to Endymion's correct identity, various sources suggesting a king, a shepherd or an astronomer. Pliny the Elder believes that Endymion was an astronomer, the first human to observe the movements of the moon, which connects Endymion to the intimate relationship between astronomy and sailingwhich was still strong when the schooner Endymion was named.

Design & Career

Described in the New York Times in 1901 as "perhaps the largest schooner in the country", the Endymion sailed in numerous regattas including the Kaiser's Cup to Bermuda and the Sandy Hook to Needles Race. Her captain was James Loesch for a majority of these races.

Post Competitive Use & Fate

After the untimely death of George Lauder Jr. in 1916, his family sold the yacht to Mr. Charles D. Vail of Palm Beach, Florida. It is unknown what happened to her after this.