The America's Cup, the premier sailing event in the world, was not named after
the country, though it well could have been.
America kept the Cup for 132 years, the most sustained dominance in any sport,
until Australia won it in 1983.
The United States recovered the Cup in 1987, and retained it with a controversial
victory over New Zealand in a special challenge match in 1988.
In fact, the America's Cup was named after the 101 foot schooner "America",
which back in 1851 won a 60 mile regatta around the Isle of Wight that had
been staged by England's Royal Yacht Squadron.
"America" was the only American entry and beat out 14 British yachts.
The trophy they took home was called The 100 Guinea Cup, but was renamed
America's Cup when the owners of the winning boat bequeathed it to the
New York Yacht Club with the stipulation that they defend it whenever challenged.
America then proceeded to meet every challenge, 25 of them, until 1983, when
Australia II took a stunning victory over defender "Liberty" in the seventh and
deciding race on the waters off Newport, Rhode Island.
The skipper of "Liberty", Dennis Conner of the San Diego Yacht Club, won the
cup back with "Stars and Stripes" in 1987, sweeping four races from Australian
defender "Kookaburra III" off Fremantle, Australia.
The following year, Conner was challenged to a Cup defence by New Zealand's
Mercury Bay Boating Club, which didn't want to wait the customary three or
four years between challenges.
The 102-year-old Deed of Gift stated that every challenge must be met, and so
a special race was held.
The San Diego Yacht Club sent out a 60 foot catamaran to contest New Zealand's
133 foot mono-hull, and "Stars and Stripes" won in a rout.
The furious New Zealanders protested the race and even filed suit, saying the SDYC
violated the spirit of the deed by racing a catamaran.
A judge in New York State agreed and on March 28, 1989, ordered the SDYC to
turn the Cup over to Mercury Bay.
The SDYC refused, instead turning it over to the New York Yacht Club as custodian
until an appeal was heard. On September 19, 1989, the decision was overturned
by the New York Supreme Court, and the Cup was returned to San Diego.
The next America's Cup was held in May, 1992, off San Diego, and was a little more
genteel. All challengers agreed to a standard class of boat, 75 foot mono-hulls
with 110 foot masts.
