AMERICA'S CUP

 1 September 2023: 

My goodness! What happened to August?! The time seems to have accelerated beyond any reason! September already and cooler weather in sight. After, of course, the obligatory hurricanes lurching about the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean! Florida just got whacked again (your humble scribe escaped this one, thank goodness!) and hopefully, there's an end to it! In any case, we seem to have deteriorated to a semi-monthly posting schedule rather than the previous one of weekly posts - in spite of the time and calendar racing by, I seem to slowed down some. But we're still here, slogging away with what we hope are interesting bits and pieces! The following is from FOX NEWS and while the other news media seem less interested this year, some of us sailors are still paying attention the the America's Cup run up (to 2024).

                                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

August 22, 1851, schooner America wins first America's Cup trophy

The trophy and entire competition were named in honor of the schooner

The schooner "America" won what would become known as the "America's Cup" race on Aug. 22, 1851.

Known at the time as the "Hundred Guinea Cup," referencing the value of the trophy, the race was sponsored by the Royal Yacht Squadron of Great Britain. It consisted of a race around the Isle of Wight.

"America," a 100-foot schooner built by George Steers and William H. Brown — and entered by the New York Yacht Club — won the event, said Encyclopedia Britannica. The trophy was renamed "America's Cup" in its honor. 

Schooner America

 The trophy then became a "challenge trophy" and is now open to "sailing clubs of all nations," said the website of INEOS Britannia, a British sailing team.

While countries are free to enter ships, "each competing vessel must be designed, built, and, insofar as possible, outfitted solely in the country that it represents," said Encyclopedia Britannica. [ed: that seems to have changed in the more recent years to a "whatever we need" policy including international crews]

The second awarding of the America's Cup did not occur until 1870. 

That race, too, was won by the New York Yacht Club.

The New York Yacht Club also won the next several races. 

"American teams representing the New York Yacht Club successfully defended the Cup against all challenges for 132 years – the longest winning streak in sport – until an Australian team won in 1983," said INEOS Britannia. 

The magnificent J class (no relation to the current J boats)

 

The Australian victory in 1983 changed the race into a "truly global phenomena," said INEOS Britannia.

The winner selects the location for the following America's Cup

It has been held "in locations spread around the world – Cowes, New York, Newport RI, Fremantle, San Diego, Auckland, Valencia and San Francisco," said INEOS Britannia. 

Even though the U.K. originated the race, a team from the United Kingdom has yet to win. 

The modern iteration of the America's Cup is a far cry from the race around the Isle of Wight in 1851. 

Now, instead of all entries racing at once – a "fleet race," as it was in 1851 – the America's Cup is decided in a series of matches. 

These matches are held in the year leading up to the final, which features the defending champion of the previous America's Cup against the winner of the elimination matches earlier that year, said Britannica. 

The 37th America's Cup will be held from Oct. 12 through Oct. 20, 2024, in Barcelona, according to the website for the event. 

How did we get to this?

Preliminary matches start in September 2023. 

Emirates Team New Zealand is the defending champion. 

Challengers for the event include Switzerland's Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Italy's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, United States of America's New York Yacht Club American Magic, the United Kingdom's INEOS Britannia and France's Orient Express Team. 

                                                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even though the boats and racing is more in keeping with NASCAR on the water (see image above), there is still some national pride - and bragging rights - involved for the winner. Boat speeds in excess of 50 knots, small crews, and fragile vessels can make for some spectacular sailing!As a matter of interest, the Cup is named for the vessel, not the country as many folks believed after America (the country) had dominated the races.  

Until next time,

                                               Fair Winds,

                                                      Old Salt