The NYYC was so shocked at the closeness of the contest that they immediately changed the rules to ban the use of American design and technology by Cup challengers.

[1] The NYYC ran a regatta to determine the yacht they would name as defender in the match.

Competing were Weatherly, with Emil (Bus) Mosbacher Jr. at the helm, Easterner, Columbia, skippered by Paul V. Shields, and Nefertiti, helmed by sailmaker and naval architect Ted Hood.

Weatherly (US-17) was designed by Philip Rhodes, built by Luders Marine Construction Company at Stamford, Connecticut, USA, and owned by a syndicate headed by Henry D. Mercer, Cornelius Walsh, and Arnold D. Frese.

She was designed by Alan Payne, built at Lars Halvorsen Sons Pty.