Inthebeginning

History of America's Cup

  • The first race.

    The first race.
    The yacht America, representing the young New York Yacht Club, would go on to beat the best the British could offer and win the Royal Yacht Squadron’s 100 Pound Cup.
  • An Early Challenge of the Cup.

     An Early Challenge of the Cup.
    Englishman James Ashbury raced against the New York Yacht Club just off Staten Island.
  • Period: to

    Repeated Challenges to the Cup.

    The Irish/Scottish tea baron, Sir Thomas Lipton chalenged the New York Yacht Club 5 times between1899 and 1930. The last challenge was in 1930.
  • Period: to

    No Challenges to the Cup.

    No racing because all but three of the original ten J class boats were used as scrap metal for World War II.
  • America's Cup Racing Resumed.

    Racing started again after the end of World War II.
  • Period: to

    Defending the Cup.

    The Americans uccessfully defended the cup over a 25 year span.
  • Australia Wins the Cup

    The John Bertrand beat Dennis Connor and the New York Yacht Club to take the Cup away from the Americans for the first time in 132 years.
  • The Cup Returns.

    Dennis Connor, now representing the San Diego Yacht Club, wins back the cup.
  • New Zealand Challenges the Cup

    Despite the challenge from New Zealand, Dennis Connor defends and keeps the Cup.
  • A New Class of Racing Boats was Designed.

    The America's Cup Class, a more modern design that could perform well in lighter winds, was designed.
  • Dennis Connor Loses the Right to Defend the Cup.

    Billionaire Bill Koch beats Dennis Connor in a Defender Series. He successfully defends the Cup.
  • The Cup Leaves the US Again.

    New Zealand wins the Cup.
  • Back Home Again

    In a trimaran, with a superior wingsail, skipper James Spithill wins the race off Valencia, Spain to bring the Cup home one more time.