America Yacht Ship Model - 1851

OcCre AMERICA 1851 – the origins of the America's Cup as a wooden model kit (1:75)

The yacht America (1851) is not just another ‘pretty classic’ among many – it is the ship that gave its name to one of the most famous competitions in sporting history. In 1851, a syndicate associated with the New York Yacht Club had a fast racing schooner built to show England what American shipbuilding was capable of. The result was a design by brothers George Steers and James Steers, which was clearly based on the extremely fast American pilot boat lines of the time – sleek, efficient and remarkably ‘sporty’ for its time.

The legendary moment came during the race around the Isle of Wight, organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron: America beat the British elite fleet, and the winner's trophy later became the America's Cup. The phrase ‘There is no second’ is part of the tradition of this regatta – often associated with an anecdote about Queen Victoria and, depending on the source, cited either as a symbolic regatta legend or as a traditional saying.

What fascinates many about the America is the combination of elegance and engineering ingenuity. It was not a fragile ‘racehorse’, but robust enough for the Atlantic crossing – and yet consistently trimmed for speed. It is precisely this tension that is rewarding in model making: the ship can be built in a very ‘clean’ and regatta-typical style (clear, clean, sharp), or with a slightly historical warmth through wood tones and fittings, without losing its sporty character.

And because the silhouette is so iconic, the finished model immediately looks high-quality, even without any additional surroundings. OcCre has recreated this model as a wooden model on a scale of 1:75, with a clear focus on a clean, elegant design that showcases the typical lines of a regatta schooner.

The construction is structured in such a way that the hull and planking form the basis, and then the deck, fittings and rigging are added step by step – exactly the order that makes sense for a model like the America, because the effect depends heavily on a smooth surface and precise transitions. Overall, the kit is aimed at model builders who want to build a classic sailing ship with a sporty character and who value a detailed but easy-to-follow construction process.

Materials and contents of the kit

According to the manufacturer, the kit is designed to feature a refined, classic wood finish. It includes woods such as lime, mahogany and walnut, as well as metal parts made of ZAMAK cast metal and brass, and cotton for textile components (e.g. rigging/textile material).

The scope of delivery also includes step-by-step videos, multilingual instructions, HD assembly photos, true-to-scale construction plans and a parts list with dimensions and materials. A simple display stand and an etched name plate are included for presentation purposes.

Technical data

Scale: 1:75
Length: 540 mm
Width: 97 mm
Height: 460 mm
Difficulty level: medium
Parts: 1135
Construction time: approx. 120 hours