sailing: History of Sport Sailing sailing History of Sport Sailing Although sailing as a means of transportation predates history, sport sailing—or yachting—seems to have originated in the 17th cent. in Holland. From there it was introduced into England (c.1660) by Charles II, and eventually spread to the American colonies. Then, as now, it was common for sport sailors to join together for social and recreational purposes in groups known as yacht clubs. The world's first such club was founded (1720) at Cork, Ireland. The oldest continuously existing club in the United States is the New York Yacht Club (NYYC; founded 1844). In 1851 members of the NYYC raced the schooner America against British competitors around England's Isle of Wight. Victorious, they deeded their trophy to the NYYC. It became known as the America 's Cup, giving its name to the oldest and most prestigious event in international sailboat racing. The United States won every America 's Cup (the event is irregularly held) between 1851 and 1983, when it was won by Australia.

Since the 1980s radical changes in boat design, lawsuits involving Cup teams, and even charges of espionage and sabotage have transformed and roiled Cup competition. The United States regained the Cup in 1987, then lost it to New Zealand in 1995. New Zealand lost to Switzerland in 2003; the United States won it in 2010. Ocean racing, an arduous and dangerous sport, especially in long-distance solo events, has gained increased notice. Major ocean racing events include the Newport-Bermuda Race, the Transpacific Race, the Volvo Ocean Race, the Vendée Globe, and the Velux 5 Oceans. Francis Chichester circumnavigated the globe alone in 1967, making only one stop; a year later nonstop around-the-world solo sailing was initiated in a race called the Golden Globe. Today's ocean racers sail advanced multihulled yachts and are aided by such modern technology as sophisticated communication devices and satellite-generated weather reports. Sailboat racing has also been part of the Olympic Games since 1900; at present Olympic sailors compete in nine classes ranging from sailboards 12 ft 1 in.

(3.7 m) in length to 26-ft 9-in (8.2-m) sloops. Sailing, traditionally a sport of the wealthy, has been opened to wider participation by modern methods of boatbuilding. Sections in this article: Sailing Newport RI | America's Cup History | 12 Meter Charters History of the America’s Cup Races The America’s Cup – the most famous sailboat race! America’s Race: Competition for the America’s Cup, the oldest and one of the most prestigious sporting trophies in the world, began in England in 1851. The newly founded New York Yacht Club was challenged by the Royal Yacht Squadron, then the most prestigious yacht club in the world, to take part in The Solent Races, sailing races that took place on the body of water between the Isle of Wight and Great Britain. Answering this challenge, the New York Yacht Club assembled a team to cross the Atlantic and race with their contender, the yacht America. The schooner America was designed and built by George Steers in 1850 at the urging of the New York Yacht Club to build a fast sailboat.

Of all the races held on The Solent, the Royal Yacht Squadron decided that America was only eligible for the “All Nations Race”, a 74 mile race around the Isle of Wight starting and ending in Cowes. The prize for the winner of this race was the 100 Guineas Cup, an award commemorating Queen Victoria’s Jubilee year. When the starting gun was fired at ten in the morning on August 22, 1851, the America was the last over the starting line. However, in the end the speedy America stunned the British fleet and crossed the finish line 19 minutes ahead of all 15 of her British competitors thus winning the 100 Guineas Cup. The schooner America brought its prize across the Atlantic, and the New York Yacht Club renamed it “The America’s Cup” after the winning boat. The America’s Cup in Newport, Rhode Island: In 1930, J boats raced in the first America’s Cup races that were held in Newport, RI. During this era the races were held at the mouth of Narragansett Bay off Breton Reef in the Atlantic Ocean.

From 1930 to 1937, the America’s Cup the course was 30 miles long. In 1958, when the era of the 12 Meters began the course was shortened to just over 24 miles. For over 50 years Newport proved to be a perfect venue for the America’s Cup because of its light and predictable winds and small volume of commercial traffic. The America’s Cup Deed of Gift: On July 8, 1857, the members of the original America race syndicate, the first team to win the America’s Cup, wrote a letter, known as The Deed of Gift, to the secretary of the New York Yacht Club. This letter was written to formalize the rules of future America’s Cup racing. Originally it stated that the America’s Cup would be held as a permanent challenge trophy that would be open to competition from any foreign yacht club. It also stated that the races would be held on the waters of the yacht club in possession of the America’s Cup and all competitors had to sail to the race destination on their own bottoms.

In other words, the boats could not be disassembled and shipped to the spot where the America’s Cup races were to occur. Subsequent changes were made to the Deed of Gift changing the racing rules of the America’s Cup. Because of the original rule that stated that all competitors had to sail to the race destination on their own bottoms, America’s Cup racing boats had to be large vessels that were capable of crossing the Atlantic Ocean. It took massive amounts of money to maintain and crew the large cutters of the 1880’s-1920’s and the J Class boats of the 1930’s. After World War II, the vast fortunes needed to finance these huge boats had largely vanished on both sides of the Atlantic. Both the British and the Americans were looking to choose an alternative to the large expensive pre-war yachts of previous America’s Cup races. In 1956 the New York Yacht Club, trustee of the America’s Cup, petitioned the Court of New York State to modify the Deed of Gift. In doing so, they cancelled the clause that obligated America’s Cup challengers to cross the ocean in the boat they intended to race.

Enter the era of the 12 Metre Class, smaller, more manageable racers, in America’s Cup racing. The 12 Meters: In 1958, after a twenty-one year halt of America’s Cup competition, racing continued with a new class of racers, 12 Meters. During this era of the America’s Cup, American syndicates continued to win the America’s Cup with the wooden 12 Meters, Columbia, Weatherly, Constellation and Intrepid twice. In 1974, aluminum 12 Meters began racing in the America’s Cup and the American team subsequently won the America’s Cup with Courageous twice and Freedom. The End of the American Streak: During the 19th and 20th centuries American yachts and sailors dominated and successfully defended the America’s Cup 24 times and created what is still today the longest winning streak in the history of organized sports.

However, on the waters off Newport, Rhode Island in 1983, the Royal Perth Yacht Club’s challenger, Australia II (12 Meter KA-6), devastated the New York Yacht Club’s defender Liberty (12 Meter US-40), skippered by Dennis Conner, by winning the America’s Cup and ending the New York Yacht Club’s 132 year winning streak. Although this defeat was devastating to the United States and the New York Yacht Club it would not be the last time that Dennis Conner would race in the America’s Cup. Four years later in 1987, the world saw the largest group of 12 Meters in the history of the America’s Cup. Over twenty-five of the multimillion dollar 12 Meter racing machines were designed and built to compete in the America’s Cup trials. Conner, then already a two time winner of the America’s Cup but more famous for being the only American sailor to ever lose the America’s Cup, staged a remarkable comeback winning the America’s Cup under the San Diego Yacht Club with his Stars & Stripes ‘87 (12 Meter US 55).

Conner demolished the Australian defender Kookaburra III (12 Meter KA-15), winning the America’s Cup finals seven race series 4-0 and, therefore, reproving his racing capabilities to the world. This marked the last America’s Cup in which the graceful twelve meter yachts would sail. The Infamous Catamaran Defense: The San Diego Yacht Club defended the America’s Cup three times after Conner’s 1987 win before losing it the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in 1995. In 1988, one of the most famous America’s Cup competitions took place off the waters of San Diego, California. An America’s Cup that would, unfortunately, begin and end in the court room instead of on the race course. Striking back to the New Zealand challenger, the 133 foot New Zealand (KZ-1), Conner and the American team designed a catamaran, Stars & Stripes ’88 (USA-1), to defend the 1988 America’s Cup. Stars & Stripes ’88 swept the three race series but the race committee decided that a catamaran was not eligible to race in the America’s Cup.

Conner and the Americans protested and the first America’s Cup defense by the San Diego Yacht Club, was finally settled in the courtroom long after racing had ended, declaring the catamaran, Stars & Stripes ’88, the winner of the 1988 America’s Cup but subsequently tarnishing the image of the America’s Cup. America’s Cup Racing Today: In 1992, after the end of the 12 Meter era and the debacle of the 1988 America’s Cup, the Deed of Gift was again modified and the International America’s Cup Class of yachts, IACC boats, was introduced as the new America’s Cup racers. The IACC boats are longer, lighter and have about twice as much sail area than the previous America’s Cup 12 Meter racers. This is the class of boats that currently races in the America’s Cup. Today the America’s Cup remains the premier challenge of yachtsmen. The best of the best in sailing from around the world have battled to gain what has become the greatest prize in yachting.

While the America’s Cup prize, a solid silver trophy standing twenty-seven inches tall, is magnificent in its own right, there is no cash prize awarded to the winner of the America’s Cup. However, racing teams spend tens of millions of dollars to either defend or challenge for the America’s Cup and prove their technological supremacy in yacht racing. The only prize for the multi-million dollar syndicate that wins the America’s Cup is fame and, of course, the glory of bringing the America’s Cup and the next races to their country and their names engraved on the perpetual Auld Mug! In the winter of 2002-2003, in New Zealand, the 31st America’s Cup was held. After their second America’s Cup victory in 2000, New Zealand become the second country after the United States to successfully defend the America’s Cup. In unpredictable, America’s Cup sailing fashion the Swiss powerhouse, Team Alinghi, lead by New Zealander Russell Coutts upset the New Zealand favorites by sweeping the nine race series, 5-0, and winning the 2003 America’s Cup. The 32nd America’s Cup was hosted by Switzerland’s team Alinghi in Valencia, Spain.

On July 3, 2007 team Alinghi defeated Emirates Team New Zealand by one second in the thrilling seventh race of the America’s Cup series. This race sealed Team Alinghi’s, 5-2 victory over New Zealand, making them successful defenders of the 32nd America’s Cup. Just two days after their America’s Cup victory Team Alinghi, began planning the next edition of the Auld Mug. They immediately accepted a challenge from Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) a Spanish challenger formed expressly for the purpose of keeping the regatta in Valencia. Larry Ellison and Team BMW/Oracle of The Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) filed its own challenge for the Cup and then filed a court case asking that CNEV be removed as Challenger of Record as being unqualified under the Deed of Gift. GGYC also asked that it be named as the rightful Challenger of Record, being the first club to file a conforming challenge. The litigation leading up to the match included which club would be the challenger, the dates and venue for the regattas, certain rules governing the regattas (in particular the measurement rules), and the construction of the boats.

There followed a long legal battle with the New York Court of Appeals finally deciding on April 2, 2009, that CNEV did not qualify as a valid challenger, and that the GGYC was thus the rightful Challenger of Record. The 33rd America’s Cup between Société Nautique de Genève defending with Team Alinghi against Golden Gate Yacht Club, began on February 6, 2010. Since the two parties were unable to agree otherwise, the match took place as a one-on-one Deed of Gift match in gigantic, specialized multi-hull racing yachts with no other clubs or teams participating. The Golden Gate Yacht Club won the match 2-0 as their yacht USA 17 powered by a rigid wing-sail proved to be significantly faster than Société Nautique de Genève’s yacht Alinghi 5. The American team, founded ten years ago by software mogul, Larry Ellison, achieved its ultimate goal when they powered across the finish line of Race 2 with a margin of 5 minutes and 26 seconds to defeat the Swiss Defender’s Alinghi 2-0.

BMW ORACLE Racing become the first American team to win the America’s Cup since 1992 when America3 defeated Il Moro de Venezia off San Diego. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club become the 28th American defender of the America’s Cup. Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing, has now won the America’s Cup four times, twice with his native New Zealand, once at the helm of the Swiss Alinghi team and now masterminding the success of Ellison’s American team. The 34th America’s Cup between the defending ORACLE TEAM USA, representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club, and Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, began on September 7, 2013 in San Francisco, California. This America’s Cup was raced aboard AC72’s, 86 foot catamarans, with a wing sail. The finals were in a format where the first team to nine points would win. Oracle Team USA began the series by being penalized its first two victories by the International Jury.

The jury found the team guilty of cheating in the 2012 America’s Cup World Series when they placed bags of lead pellets in their 45-foot catamarans to add additional weight outside of allowed areas. The 34th America’s Cup was the longest ever Cup series by both number of days and races. It was also the first since the 25th America’s Cup in 1983 (the last America’s Cup to be held in Newport, Rhode Island) to feature a winner-take-all final race. In the 19th and final race, Oracle Team USA defended the 34rd America’s Cup by a score of 9 to 8. Oracle had to win the last eight races and come from behind to, once again, win the oldest trophy in international sport, making it the most dramatic comeback in America’s Cup history!

For all the latest information on the 33rd America’s Cup visit the official America’s Cup website – Pages: Next page Guest Comments “Everyone was very friendly, informative and let the participants decide just how much they wanted to get involved.” Top 10 Oldest Sports Trophies in the World: Oldest trophies Top 10 Oldest Sports Trophies in the World tweet Top 10 Oldest Sports Trophies in the World The history of sports probably extents back to the history of man. Boxing, wrestling and running are among the most ancient sports . Perhaps, competitions using the simple mode of human transport, running, would also have been among the first sports played. Similarly hitting, kicking, throwing a ball like object, as well as sports related to hunting and throwing would also be expected to have been played in early times. The history of sports trophies extents back to mid of 18th century. Before that winners of any competition were awarded with money or land. Sports trophies are most easily defined as a symbol or token of victory. Throughout history, trophies were commonly seen as a token. Trophies are sign of honor and prestige.

After a battle, a soldier may have taken a portion of his enemy’s armor or even a body part. Sports trophies made in the form of cups are the oldest form of “man-made” award. Trophies made for the express purpose of honoring an event date back to the mid-18th century. Here is an overview of the some of the oldest sports trophies in the world. These trophies are still in practice and each of them has a wonderful history behind it. Enjoy browsing. 11. The Challenge Cup 1896 At no 10 in the list of top 10 oldest sports trophies we have the Challenge Cup . It is the one of the most prestigious title in Rugby Football league. It has been held annually since 1896, with the exception of the duration of World War I and the 1939–1940 seasons. The Challenge Cup trophy was designed by silversmiths Fattorini & Sons of Bradford in 1897. The trophy stood 36 inches high manufactured of solid silver and stood on a black ebony base approximately 8 inches deep. The winners of the Cup in looking after the trophy must follow a certain code of practice.

When not in a secure cabinet, the trophy must always be in the presence of someone. When the trophy is taken out overnight, somebody must sleep in the same room and if taken in a car there must be two people in attendance. When it went down to France for some Catalans publicity photos, it even had its own seat on the plane. 10. The Stanley Cup 1893 One of the oldest sports trophies Stanley Cup is the Championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoff winner. The first cup was awarded in 1893 to Montreal HC . It has unique properties that it has the names of all of the winning players, coaches, management and club staff engraved on its chalice. Initially, a new band was added each year but it caused the trophy grow in size. The prevent from growing in 1958, the modern Stanley Cup was designed as one piece cup with five-band barrel each containing 13 winning teams per band. When the band is full the oldest band is replaced with new blank band at the bottom. The oldest band is preserved in the Hockey Hall of Fame. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley’s Cup, The Holy Grail, or as Lord Stanley’s Mug.

The original bowl was made of silver and is 18.5 centimeters in height and 29 centimeters in diameter. The current Stanley Cup, topped with a copy of the original bowl, is made of a silver and nickel alloy; it has a height of 89.54 centimeters and weighs 15.5 kilograms. 9. Ashes Urn 1882–83 The Ashes series played between Australia and England is perhaps oldest cricket competition in the history of cricket. Similarly Ashes Urn is the oldest cricket trophy in our list of oldest sports trophies in the world. The term Ashes originated in an ironic article published in a British newspaper, The Sporting Times , immediately after Australia’s 1882 victory at The Oval, their first Test win on English soil. The article stated that English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The mythical ashes immediately became associated with the 1882–83 series played in Australia, before which the English captain Ivo Bligh had vowed to “regain those ashes”. The English media therefore dubbed the tour the quest to regain the Ashes.

The Ashes urn is made of terracotta and about 15 cm tall. It is reputed to contain a burnt cricket bail. In 1998, Lord Darnley’s 82-year-old daughter-in-law said they were the remains of her mother-in-law’s veil, not a bail. Other evidence suggests a ball. The certain origin of the Ashes, therefore, is the subject of some dispute. The Ashes urn remained with Bligh until his death in 1927 the urn was given to MCC by Lord Darnley’s Australian-born widow, Florence. It can be seen in the cricket museum at Lord’s, together with a red and gold velvet bag, made especially for it, and the scorecard of the 1882 match. The text on the urn is as follows:- When Ivo goes back with the urn, the urn; Studds, Steel, Read and Tylecote return, return; The welkin will ring loud, The great crowd will feel proud, Seeing Barlow and Bates with the urn, the urn; And the rest coming home with the urn. 8.

Calcutta Cup 1879 Calcutta Cup is the most famous and oldest rugby trophy in the world. It has a wonderful history, beginning in the Indian sub-continent during the 1870s. In 1878 Calcutta (Rugby) Football Club was forced to close, due to a number of factors: The lack of new blood into the club The rise in popularity of polo in the area The departure from the city of a British army regiment As a consequence, the club withdrew their remaining funds and had a silver trophy produced from 270 melted-down silver rupee coins. The value of these coins was £60. This trophy was then offered to the Rugby Football Union in England for it to be used in any way that the Union saw fit “as the best means of doing some lasting good for the cause of Rugby Football.” The cup itself is of Indian workmanship, decorated with cobras and an elephant. It is now in a fragile state after much mistreatment. 7. Wimbledon Trophy 1877 The oldest tennis trophy is Wimbledon. The world’s first official lawn tennis tournament Wimbledon held at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club London in 1877.

The Gentlemen’s single title was the only competition in the first tournament that is competed by 22 players. The winner of the tournament was awarded with prize money of 12 guineas plus a silver challenge cup valued at 25 guineas. Spencer Gore is the first winner of Wimbledon. 6. The Scottish Cup 1873–74 The Scottish Cup is the one of the oldest football trophies. It is an annual association football knockout competition for men’s football clubs in Scotland. The competition was first held in 1873–74. It is the oldest national trophy in the world. It was first presented to Queen’s Park, who won the inaugural tournament in 1874. The current holder is St. Johnstone, who won the tournament for the first time by defeating Dundee United 2–0 in the 2014 final. 5. Claret Jug 1872 Claret Jug is one of the oldest sports trophies and is the oldest golf trophy. The Claret Jug is presented the winner of The Open Championship, one of the four major championships in golf.

The awarding of the trophy dates from 1872, when a new trophy was needed after Young Tom Morris had won the original Challenge Belt outright in 1870 by winning Championship thrice in a row. In 1871 there was no event while in 1872 when Morris fourth times won the Championship; the trophy still wasn’t ready to present him although his name was first to be engraved on it. In 1873 Tom Kidd became the first winner to be actually presented with the Claret Jug after winning the Championship. 4. Football Association (FA) Cup 1871–72 The football association cup commonly known as FA Cup is the oldest football trophy . It is an annual knockout cup completion in English football and is the oldest association football completion in the world. The history of FA Cup is extended back to 1871-72, when the first completion was held. The FA was formed there on 26 October 1863.

The captains, secretaries and other representatives of a dozen London and suburban clubs playing their own versions of football met “for the purpose of forming an Association with the object of establishing a definite code of rules for the regulation of the game”. In 1971 the idea is extended to a single knockout competition. The announcement of the birth of ‘The Football Association Challenge Cup’ ran to just 29 words: “That it is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in connection with the Association for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete”. The rules of the new competition were drafted and at that time 15 clubs registered in the competition while 12 clubs actually competed for the title. Wanderers won the first title of FA Cup, beating Royal Engineers by 1-0. 3. The Americas Cup 1851 America’s Cup is one of the oldest and best-known trophies in international sailing yacht competition. It was first offered as the Hundred Guinea Cup on August 20, 1851, by the Royal Yacht Squadron of Great Britain for a race around the Isle of Wight.

It is called America’s cup because the first competition was won by the America, a 100-foot schooner from New York City. In 1857, the American winners of the cup donated it to the New York Yacht Club for a perpetual international challenge competition. In 1987 the San Diego Yacht Club took control of the U.S. competition. 2. Musselburgh Old Club Cup 1774 Musselburgh Old Club Cup is the oldest sporting trophy in the world still competed on a regular basis since 1774. It is believed that Club Cup is the oldest golf cup still competed for. Mr. Thomson McMillan of Shorthope won the 1st cup in 1774 and became Captain of the club. 1. Scorton Silver Arrow 1673 The Antient Scorton Silver Arrow is the oldest sports award in the world since it is continued from 1673. It is the World’s longest established and oldest recorded sporting event, dating back to 1673 and first shot for in Scorton Village, North Yorkshire. Twenty-two archers competed in the first event for the prize of a silver arrow.

This was won by Henry Calverley of Eryholme on Tees, who had provided the trophy. The event proved so successful that a new organization, the Society of Archers, was formed to hold the event on an annual basis. The competition has continued annually since 1673 (except in periods of various Wars) and celebrated its tri-centenary shoot in 2008. In the competition participants shoot at four-foot (122 cm) five-color face, targets at a range of 100 yards. The winner is the first person to hit the three-inch black spot at the center. The winner is appointed Captain of the Arrow. The first person to hit the red zone is appointed Lieutenant of the Arrow. The winner is presented with a replica of the original silver arrow, which he keeps for a year. The original silver arrow is held at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.

Share this: Fun | December 1, 2012 / views: Warning: Creating default object from empty value in /home/biotusql/public_html/weirdexistence.com/includes/functions_core.php on line 260 28,879 Tweet Notwithstanding paragraph in which the most important sports trophies are invaluable, they have a price! The most expensive trophy in the world is famous Golden Goddess, worth $ 20,000,000, and the oldest trophy dates from 1848, is made of silver and is awarded to the winner of the international sailing race America Cup. We picked data from Wikipedia, and now we present some well-known and most respected trophies that one athlete can win. FIFA World Cup Trophy This $20.000.000 trophy is made of 18 carat gold with a malachite base, it depicts two human figures holding up the Earth . The current holder of the trophy is Spain, winner of the 2010 World Cup. source Stanley Cup Trophy The original bowl was made of silver and is 7.28" in height and 11.42" in diameter.

The current Stanley Cup, topped with a copy of the original bowl, is made of a silver and nickel alloy; it has a height of 35.25" and weighs 34.5 lb. it has the names of all of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff engraved on its chalice. source European Champion Clubs' Cup Champions League winners have not kept the real trophy, which remains in UEFA's keeping at all times since 2009. A full-size replica trophy, the Champions League winners trophy, is awarded to the winning club with their name engraved on it. source Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy Trophy was created in 1977 replacing its predecessor, the Walter A. Brown Trophy. It's made of 14.5 pounds of sterling silver and vermeil with a 24 karat gold overlay, stands two feet tall; this Tiffany & Co creation is valued at $13.500. source Commissioner's Trophy Trophy designs contain flags representing each team in North America's top two leagues. This trophy is also made by Tiffany & Co, and it's worth approximately $15,000.

It weighs approximately 30 pounds and is made of sterling silver, with 30 gold-plated flags. source Vince Lombardi Trophy Again, Tiffany & Co. A new Vince Lombardi Trophy is made every year and the winning team maintains permanent possession of that trophy. It is made entirely of sterling silver, stands 22" weighs 7 pounds and depicts a regulation-size football in kicking position. source Ashes Trophy Nobody can say for certain what's inside the little urn, but it seems large enough to hold the national pride of two countries, England and Australia, whose rivalry dates back to 1882. source Borg-Warner Trophy Made of sterling silver, the trophy is just under 5 ft 4" inches tall and weighs nearly 153 pounds. Speedway officials decided to add a base to the trophy in the spring of 1986. In 1991, the trophy went through a thorough restoration. In 2004, the base was removed, and replaced with a new, larger base to accommodate more winners.

source America's Cup Trophy The trophy was originally awarded in 1851 by the Royal Yacht Squadron for a race around the Isle of Wight; the trophy was renamed the America's Cup after the boat and was donated to the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) under the terms of the Deed of Gift, which made the cup available for perpetual international competition. source Wimbledon Trophy The trophy has been awarded since 1887, it's a silver gilt cup 18.5 inches in height and 7.5 inches in diameter. This is the most prestigious trophy in tennis world, as Goran Ivanisevic said "No matter what I'll do until the end of my career, I'll always be Wimbledon champion". Yacht America - Next Level SailingNext Level Sailing Contact The Yacht America This magnificent sailing vessel is a replica of the 139-foot yacht (AMERICA) that won the historic, Royal Yacht Squadron’s “100 Guinea Cup” race around the Isle of Wight in 1851. The History Without exaggerating, AMERICA is the world’s most famous racing yacht. It is also one of the most beautiful yachts in the world.

The reason is simple. The original AMERICA put yachting on the map. It is why the most famous trophy in sailing is called The America’s Cup. In 1851, a boat named ‘AMERICA’ won the ‘Royal Yacht Squadrons’ 100 Guinea Cup given to the winner of a race around the Isle of Wight. It is said…that the margin was so great that watching AMERICA sail past the royal yacht, Queen Victoria famously asked “Who came second? Your majesty…there is no second” was the reply. The winners, members of the New York Yacht Club, donated the trophy to the Club, to be held as a ‘challenge’ trophy. Thus was born the America’s Cup, named after the boat, not the country. Today There aren’t many yachting stories as exciting as the 95-year history of ‘AMERICA’…The Low Black Schooner from New York that won the most famous race of them all. Designed by a young genius who combined the best of Old World theory and New World practicality, and owned by a syndicate of powerful men out to prove American maritime prowess, she did what almost everybody thought was impossible.

Her later career was equally as colorful – conveyor of secret agents, Confederate blockade runner, Union warship, Naval Academy training vessel, and pride and joy of a famous Civil War general and politician. By her end in 1945, she was one of the most honored vessels in the United States. The original was destroyed during World War II….ours is a near perfect replica built in 1995 at a cost of more than $6 million. Replica or not…in 2007 the “America’s Cup Management” offered $500,000 for the ‘America’ to be brought to Spain where the race was being held. ACM, the city of Valencia and the government of Spain were reported to have spent over $2.65 BILLION on the build-up, marketing and conduct of the 2007 America’s Cup event. The ‘AMERICA’ was invited to San Francisco in the summer of 2013 to represent the history of this great race for Oracle Team USA’s defense of the 34th America Cup.

And now the ‘AMERICA’ has been selected as the ambassador for the America’s Cup Tour, visiting sites along the west coast in July-August 2015, and Mexico, U.S. gulf and east coast, and the Caribbean in 2016. Boat Specs Mast Height: 105 feet (main mast) Sail: 5,900 Square feet Contact GET IN TOUCH The British International Harmsworth Trophy - History Photos courtesy of Beken of Cowes HISTORY Kevin Desmond & William Pelly Commenting on the Centennial of powerboat racing's most famous trophy, The Earl of Normanton, Chairman of the Trustees, said from his home Somerley, in Hampshire: "Here is a quote from a London newspaper in 1904. 'Had any shipbuilder been asked, say five years ago, to build a 40' launch capable of running at 20 knots and upwards he would have declared the problem an impossible one. Yet this has already been accomplished and makers are looking to even better results with improved body design and methods of construction.' This quote probably delighted Sir Alfred Harmsworth because it was for this very reason that he commissioned and donated this famous trophy to the sport.

There is no doubt that during the past 100 years of racing, the Daily Mail British International Harmsworth Trophy has achieved its goal with the development of the Motor Torpedo Boat used in the war being designed as a direct result of racing for this prize. This year's competitors will be racing in monohulls, capable of speeds in excess of 100mph in rough water conditions. Today, the fastest speed ever achieved on water is an astonishing 317mph by Australian Ken Warby. We've come a long way on water since the first race in 1903." above: Napier, winner of the first British International Harmsworth Trophy, was one of the steel-hulled motor launches using 20-guage rolled steel. The engine was identical to the original 50 bhp Napier but developed to 75 bhp pushing the rpm to 800. The magnificent solid bronze trophy, commissioned by Sir Alfred Harmsworth, proprietor of the Daily Mail, was donated as an International Cup for motorboats intended to encourage the development of the sport.

First presented in 1903 - the year that the first plane flew - the trophy has since become the powerboating equivalent of the America's Cup. But this is not just a story about a great trophy but an era of extraordinary pioneers in design and memories, which are legion. Even in its inaugural year, when British competitors gathered at the Royal Cork Yacht Club on Sunday 12 July to race on a 8.5-mile course from the Club down to the Marina, the actual victor is steeped in mystery. The name of the owner of the steel-hulled 75hp Napier, Selwyn Francis Edge, is etched on the trophy. But some reports suggest that Campbell Muir was at the wheel but there are also references to the future women's world land speed record holder, Dorothy Levitt being at the helm, as she was certainly on board. An article in the Cork Constitution on 13 July reported "A large number of spectators viewed the first mile from the promenade of the Yacht Club, and at Cork several thousand people collected at both side of the river to see the finishes.

Owing to the starters and the judges not being in communication by telephonic or any other means, people at either end of the course could only conjecture the result." This is a far cry from the racing of today, where in the region of 100 patrol and rescue boats will cover the course, helicopters and spotters overhead, and radio communication which keeps the commentators and spectators fully informed. The Harmsworth quickly became the province of international competition, with France and the USA joining the fray in the Solent in 1904. As reported in Yachting World "the final was originally intended to run off immediately after the last heat, but this was deferred by Royal command. In the meantime a very pleasant luncheon party was given aboard the steamer Princess Helen. Eventually, the booming of cannon at Portsmouth announced the approach of Royalty, and the Royal Yacht, followed by the Admiralty yacht, Enchantress, slowly made here way into the Solent Selwyn Edge dashed in a blinding cloud of rain and spray to the finish at the Royal Yacht.

He ran twice round the Royal Yacht, while the King and Queen bowed their kindly acknowledgements as he lifted his cap." But victory was short-lived for Edge as the committee judged his Napier Minor failed to comply with the regulations and the trophy was awarded to France's Henri Brasier. Arcachon hosted the 1905 series, a walkover by the British boat of Lionel Rothschild and the Hon John Scott Montagu. Montagu successfully defended the trophy, but in 1907 American won with Edward J. Schroeder's record-breaking Dixie, with Capt. Barclay Pearce at the wheel but it was Britain's T.O.M. Sopwith who held sway until the outbreak of the First Work War and the cessation of competition. Continuing the trophy's extraordinary history, a zeppelin raid during the war set fire to the Admiralty yacht, The Enchantress, home of the Royal Motor Yacht Club and custodians of the trophy, destroying all previous records but miraculously damaging only the wooden plinth. This was eventually restored in 1920 by the American, Gar Wood, using mahogany from his Miss America I.

Wood dominated the trophy during the 1920s, winning for an unprecedented nine times but pushed all the way by the British oil millionairess, Marion Barbara 'Joe' Carstairs, who in her quest for victory campaigned four multi aero-engined 30ft hydroplanes costing £30,000 each. Competition was suspended at the start of the Second World War but the role of honour went on after the war to include R Stanley Dollar Jr, of San Francisco, whose family owned the world famous Dollar Steam Ship Line and Bob Hayward from Canada. above: Colonel AW Tate in his distinctive hat talks to American legend Gar Wood in America 1921 above:Miss Dorothy Levitt takes the helm of Napier above:Baby Reliance 111 built in 1912 a 26 ft boat made from American cedar and powered by a single Sterling 150hp engine above: Colonal AW Tate and Sir Mackay Edgar in Maple Leaf V1, built by SE Saunders and Co, Cowes, Isle of Wight, were convincingly defeated in the Solent by Gar Wood in 1920.

The American drove to victory in the twin Liberty aero-engined 1000 hp 26 ft Miss America 1 at an average speed of 61.4 mph.. In 1919, Gar Wood spent $500,000 on experimental work to develop the Liberty engine at the Packard Motor Car Company. This was the first competition since the war and it was written that it was no surprise that the British boats were outclassed as England had given all of her thought and energy to winning the war. The original teak foundation of the Harmsworth Trophy which was destroyed by a zeppelin raid during the war was replaced with mahogany from Miss America 1 above: The crew of the 40ft twin 72hp-engined Napier 11. Owner Selwyn Francis Edge recalled "motorboating in those days was a very wet performance which if the wind was on one side blew over us badly. Hence the oilskins!" above: The British duo od Colonel AW Tate and Sir Mackay Edgar made the trip to the Detroit river in 1921 with Maple Leaf V111 in an attempt to recapture the trophy, the sole English challenger.

The usual three mile course was extended to five miles and the plywood British hull tore a hole on the second lap. Gar Wood easily retained the trophy in Miss America 11 which went on to set a world speed record of 80.567 mph. above: Colonal AW Tate and Sir Mackay Edgar in Maple Leaf V1. Latterly, in competitions for offshore and circuit boats, the Harmsworth was won by such great names as Michael Doxford (GBR), Stefano Casiraghi (MON), Jonathon Jones (GBR), Billy Seebold (USA), Andreas Ove Ugland (NOR), Hannes Bohinc (AUT), Roberto Buonomo (ITALY), and Fabio Buzzi (ITALY). TRIUMPHS:

Question: What is the most famous trophy in the sport of yacht racing?
Answer: America's Cup