Starting with the lines of Vim, Olin J. Stephens II designed a new boat, which gradually took shape on Bill Maurogianni’s drawing board, after numerous comparison tests in tank. On completion of this work, Olin considered that Columbia would be slightly superior to Vim.

In the selection trials, there was a close struggle between Vim and Columbia.  Briggs Cunningham needed all of his strength and the two Stephens brothers, Rod and Olin, who were part of the crew, all of their vigilance to enable Columbia to snatch selection to defend the Cup.

Already Olin Stephens’ Twelve Meter science was half a second a mile ahead of Vim, and half a minute ahead of Sceptre, the challenger.