# Defender (America's Cup)

The Defender in the America's Cup sailing competition is the team that holds the trophy and has been challenged by another union for the title return.

## Defenders

| Year | Venue | Defending club | Defender |
| 1851 | Isle of Wight | Royal Yacht Squadron | 8 cutters and 7 schooners, runner-up Aurora |
| 1870 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | 17 schooners, winner Franklin Osgood's Magic |
| 1871 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | Franklin Osgood, Columbia (2–1) and William Proctor Douglas, Sappho (2–0) |
| 1876 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | John Stiles Dickerson, Madeleine |
| 1881 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | Joseph Richard Busk, Mischief |
| 1885 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | John Malcolm Forbes syndicate, Puritan |
| 1886 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | Charles Jackson Paine, Mayflower |
| 1887 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | Charles Jackson Paine, Volunteer |
| 1893 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | Charles Oliver Iselin syndicate, Vigilant |
| 1895 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | William K. Vanderbilt syndicate, Defender |
| 1899 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | J. Pierpont Morgan syndicate, Columbia |
| 1901 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | J. Pierpont Morgan syndicate, Columbia |
| 1903 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | Cornelius Vanderbilt III syndicate, Reliance |
| 1920 | New York City | New York Yacht Club | Henry Walters syndicate, Resolute |
| 1930 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | Harold S. Vanderbilt syndicate, Enterprise |
| 1934 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | Harold S. Vanderbilt syndicate, Rainbow |
| 1937 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | Harold S. Vanderbilt, Ranger |
| 1958 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | Henry Sears, Columbia |
| 1962 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | Mercer, Walsh, Frese syndicate, Weatherly |
| 1964 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | Eric Ridder syndicate, Constellation |
| 1967 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | William Justice Strawbridge syndicate, Intrepid |
| 1970 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | William Justice Strawbridge syndicate, Intrepid |
| 1974 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | Robert Willis McCullough syndicate, Courageous |
| 1977 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | Ted Turner, Courageous |
| 1980 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | Freedom syndicate, Freedom |
| 1983 | Newport | New York Yacht Club | Freedom syndicate, Liberty |
| 1987 | Fremantle | Royal Perth Yacht Club | Kevin Parry, Kookaburra III |
| 1988 | San Diego | San Diego Yacht Club | Sail America, Stars & Stripes 88 |
| 1992 | San Diego | San Diego Yacht Club | Bill Koch, America$^3$ |
| 1995 | San Diego | San Diego Yacht Club | Sail America, Young America |
| 2000 | Auckland | Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron | Team New Zealand, NZL-60 |
| 2003 | Auckland | Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron | Team New Zealand, NZL 82 |
| 2007 | Valencia | Société Nautique de Genève | Alinghi, SUI-100 |
| 2010 | Valencia | Société Nautique de Genève | Alinghi, Alinghi 5 |
| 2013 | San Francisco | Golden Gate Yacht Club | Oracle Team USA, Oracle Team USA 17 |
| 2017 | Bermuda | Golden Gate Yacht Club | Oracle Team USA, 17 |
| 2021 | Auckland | Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron | Emirates Team New Zealand, Te Rehutai |
| 2024 | Barcelona | Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron | Emirates Team New Zealand, tba |