The first J Class sloop ever built for Sir Thomas Lipton’s fifth and final America’s Cup challenge could potentially grace Bermuda’s waters when the Island hosts a J Class regatta in 2017.

Shamrock V, the only remaining wooden J Class sloop, lost against American defender Enterprise in the fourteenth America’s Cup Match held in 1930 and is one of only seven J Class sloops in existence today.

The J Class Association (JCA) and the America’s Cup Event Authority have agreed to stage a J Class regatta in Bermuda in June 2017 between the conclusion of the America’s Cup Challenger Play-offs and the America’s Cup Match. The occasion will mark the J Class’s first appearance in the America’s Cup in 80 years. The J Class was the design sailed in the America’s Cup between 1930 and 1937 before the 12-metre class yacht was introduced in 1958 in what was the first America’s Cup Match held in just over two decades.

“The J Class era of the America’s Cup is widely recognised as being among the high points in Cup history,” said Sir Russell Coutts, director of the America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA).

“When racing for the America’s Cup in the 1930s, the J Class boats embodied grace and power with cutting-edge design and engineering. Having the J Class join us in Bermuda will create a spectacular blend between the old and new.”

The J Class boats will be moored in the America’s Cup Village in Dockyard, providing as elegant a sight at rest.

Louise Morton from the J Class Association (JCA), said: “The America’s Cup organisers have offered the J Class a unique opportunity to be part of the America’s Cup for the first time in 80 years. On behalf of the owners, captains and crew, we are delighted to be part of this spectacular event.”

Racing in the J Class regatta will be organised by the America’s Cup race management team with the final two days of racing expected to straddle the opening weekend of the America’s Cup Match.

Shamrock V is the only J Class sloop to have been in continuous commission since her launch in 1930.

Since her refit in 2000, Shamrock V has sailed across the Pacific and attended the America’s Cup in New Zealand.

Irish/Scottish tea Baron Lipton and the Royal Ulster Yacht Club challenged five times for the America’s Cup between 1899 and 1930.

While Lipton did not win the America’s Cup, he became one of the first to introduce the idea of sports sponsorship, and he realised a financial windfall from it. Lipton’s final challenge in 1930 was the first in the new J-Class boats. This was a period of magnificent beauty afloat, as the towering masts carrying an improbable amount of sail powered through the chop off Newport, Rhode Island.

Harold Vanderbilt was selected to defend for the New York Yacht Club that year and did so with ease, winning the best-of-seven series 4-0.

Lipton’s challenges became famously known as the Lipton era of the America’s Cup.

Despite failing to win the Cup he became a folk hero for his good-natured approach to the obstacles stacked against him.