Charles Barr       

Charlie Barr was born in Gourock in 1865 and was to become became an accomplished yachtsman. He died at the young age of 45 years in Southampton during a visit to his family. In the yachting season he was based in New York but for the winter months returned to his wife and son who lived in the town.

The yacht America                  The America's Cup

Barr sailed the American contenders to defend The America's Cup yacht race and took USA citizenship in 1899. The American yachts enjoyed sponsorships from several wealthy backers including J.P.Morgan, the Kaiser Wilhelm II backed the German team and the British were backed by Sir Thomas Lipton, the tea and grocery magnate. Famously on one occasion, the Kaiser was asked as to whether his uncle King Edward VII would be attending a state function with some dry humour he replied "No, he has gone boating with his grocer."

Charlie Barr was to set the speed record for trans - Atlantic crossing averaging 200 miles a day and this record remained unbeaten until 1980. Famously on the yacht Atlantic Barr achieved 341 nautical mikes in a 24 hour period.

At his funeral at Southampton, Sir Thomas Lipton attended and the pall bearers were members of the British challenge team and from Lipton's own luxury yacht. The New York Yacht Club today still regard him as one of the world's greatest yachtsman.

The grave of Charles Barr at Southampton Old Cemetery
 copyright sketch by kind permission of Bernard Lavell of Southampton Art Society

 The 33rd America's Cup, set to take place in Spain in 2009, has been postponed, and no new date set, due to a legal dispute over the rules of the sailing event, organizers AC Management announced.