By the end of the 19th Century, the America’s Cup had become a plaything for the rich, with men like J.P.Morgan and William K Vanderbilt controlling the New York Yacht Club. Challenging them from Britain was Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, founder of Lipton’s tea, who would challenge five times for the Cup. In one practice, no less than King Edward II was on board when the mast collapsed, almost killing him. The King had his cigar knocked out of his hand, and calmly lighted a fresh one before asking if anyone was hurt. This week, there will be two episodes; the second will be out on Wednesday, except for Bizarre Plus members, who will receive both immediately. Click here to join today As a member, you’ll get: A weekly bonus podcast Exclusive behind-the-scenes access A fortnightly newsletter Access to the members-only chatroom Ability to vote on future episodes Early access to any live show tickets Research There is no limit to the writings on the America’s Cup, and this was one of the biggest research jobs I’ve had. Some of the key sources included: A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup by Michael D'Antonio The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory by Richard V. Simpson Exposed: The Dark Side of the America’s Cup by Alan Sefton and Larry Keating Of course, the great man joined us and his book is Born To Win: The Power Of A Vision by John Bertrand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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