A piece of ENDEAVOUR's tow rope which was severed on the night of 13th September 1937 at about 11 o'clock at night in the Atlantic, 250 miles off Nantucket on the east coast of America, with wind speeds of 105 mph.

The J. Class yacht was being towed back to England by the Motor yacht VIVA II, after a summer's racing for the America's Cup in American waters. The section of rope was cut off a few feet from where it broke.

Nothing was heard or seen of ENDEAVOUR after the tow broke, until she was sighted by the tanker CHEYENNE at the approaches to the English Channel 20 days later. Having lost the tow, the ENDEAVOUR had raised sail and crossed the Atlantic under jury rig.

The Captain of the ENDEAVOUR was Edward Heard of Tollesbury and there were several other local members of her crew from Tollesbury, along with Jim Mussett from West Mersea.
The rope is 8.5 inches (21.5 cm) circumference.

Donated by Mr Jim Mussett who was a member of her crew.
Date: 3 November 2009