35th America’s Cup: The oldest trophy in international sport Since 1851, the best sailors in the world, competing on the fastest boats, have contested the America’s Cup. Apart from the United States only three nations, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland, have claimed yachting’s most prestigious trophy, affectionately known as the “Auld Mug” AMERICA RULES THE WAVES Venue: Isle of Wight America Length at water line: 27.39m NYYC 1870-87 EARLY DEFENCES New York NYYC sees off variety of mainly British challengers during evolutionary phase in which size and type of boat varies greatly 1893-1903 90-FOOTERS New York John Cox Stevens Commodore of New York Yacht Club America’s Cup First awarded by Royal Yacht Squadron in 1851 Largest and most impressive of all early America’s Cup yachts. U.S. totally dominant, winning every race in five contests 27.32m, NYYC Largest sloop ever built, designed by Captain Herreshoff, wins in 1903 Reliance 1920-37 J-CLASS BOATS New York, Newport Racing resumes after Great War under Universal Rule – boats to conform to formula involving sail length, area and displacement to reduce size and costs 1958 12-METRE ERA To revive Cup after World War II, NYYC allows smaller, less expensive boats to compete Columbia 13.95m, NYYC 1958 winner 1983 ACHILLES KEEL Newport After 132 years, longest winning streak in sporting history ends when Alan Bond’s Australia II wins sudden-death 7th race Louis Vuitton Cup – preliminary competition to weed out multiple challengers – established Australia II 13.10m, Royal Perth YC Revolutionary winged keel helps win victory 1987 CONNOR’S REVENGE Fremantle Dennis Conner, first U.S. skipper to lose Cup, in 1983, atones by winning it back from Australia at first attempt New Zealand 27.43m, Mercury Bay BC Stars & Stripes 13.96m, San Diego YC 1988 TO COURT San Diego Maverick challenge by vast monohull New Zealand beaten at sea by Conner’s smaller, faster catamaran – and in law by New York Supreme Court, which rules mismatch is not illegal Stars & Stripes 16.76m, San Diego YC CLASS OF ’92 San Diego New International America’s Cup Class of ultralight yachts – established to define valid challenge in law – contest Cup. America3 defeats Italian challenger Il Moro di Venezia 1995-2000 KIWIS SHINE San Diego Team led by Peter Blake demolishes Conner’s Young America 5-0 in first victory for New Zealand. Team defends title in 2000 Black Magic 18.04m, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron 2013 FLYING BOATS San Francisco Oracle defends title in astonishing comeback from 8-1 down to seal 9-8 victory over Emirates Team New Zealand in closest match in America’s Cup history 2003 SWISS GLORY Auckland Alinghi team of Ernesto Bertarelli (above), and former New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts, is first challenger to win trophy on initial attempt Alinghi Challenge 18.00m, Société Nautique de Genève Oracle USA-17 27.00m, Golden Gate Yacht Club 2007-10 SPANISH ARMADA Valencia Spain hosts Cup on behalf of landlocked Switzerland – Alinghi retains title in 2007 before BMW Oracle Racing reclaims trophy for U.S. in 2010 Alinghi SUI-100 25.00m, Société Nautique de Genève ORACLE MARK-3 Bermuda Team Oracle, again skippered by James Spithill, aiming for third win in row Source: America’s Cup Pictures: NYYC.org, Getty Images