Vim was the first 12-meter designed in 1937 at the Sparkman and Stephens Design Bureau, built for Harold Vanderbilt, who had just had a successful America's Cup campaign on the J-Class Ranger. The boat was sent to race in England in 1939 and raced successfully there, winning 19 of 28 races that year, but World War II stopped all America's Cup regattas. It wasn't until 1958 that the 12-meter resumed racing for the Cup, but by then changes in the 12-meter class rules made her uncompetitive. For her time, the Vim was an extremely advanced and advanced design, with a number of innovative details. For example a steering wingtip integrated with a steering flap that would significantly increase the efficiency of the rudder without increasing drag, a first for a 12-meter boat with an aluminum mast and two-speed winches. Extensive pool testing was carried out before she was built. Vim was fully restored in 2003 and is now for sale.
