Okla-homey
8/22/2006, 06:43 AM
August 22, 1851: US wins first America's Cup
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9527/tt0030062lu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
155 years ago today, the US-built schooner America bests a fleet of Britain's finest ships in a race around England's Isle of Wight. The ornate silver trophy won by the America was later donated to the New York Yacht Club on condition that it be forever placed in international competition.
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7069/ttmidtown061aa2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The New York Yacht Club's mid-town clubhouse. The joint was donated by billionaire JP Morgan
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/760/ttcopyright19990902awdufresneii6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
One of the lounge areas of the New York Yacht Club in mid-town NYC. No shirt, no shoes, no service.
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3897/ttcopyright19991003awdufresnezc7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
NYYC main dining room over with a view of West 44th Street. Allegedly they make a pretty good fish sammich.
Today, the "America's Cup" is the world's oldest continually contested sporting trophy and represents the pinnacle of international sailing yacht competition.
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/6991/ttbodenloshd5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
A victor enjoying an adult beverage from the Cup
The history of the yacht America began with five members of the New York Yacht Club, who decided to build a state-of-the-art schooner to compete against British ships in conjunction with England's "Great Exposition" of 1851.
Designed by George Steers, the 100-foot, black-hulled America had a sharp bow, a V bottom, and tall masts, making it strikingly different from the traditional yachts of the day. In June 1851, America set sail from its shipyard on New York City's East River, bound for England. Manned by skipper William H. Brown and a crew of 12, America raced and overtook numerous ships during the Atlantic crossing.
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/255/ttamericazw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
America
After being outfitted and repainted in France, America sailed to Cowes on the Isle of Wight to challenge the best British sailboats in their own waters. At Cowes, America took on all comers for a match race, but no English yacht accepted the challenge. Finally, on August 22, America joined 14 British ships for a regatta around the Isle of Wight. The prize was the Hundred Guinea Cup, a 2-foot-high silver jug put up by the Royal Yacht Squadron.
In the 53-mile race, America trounced the competition, beating the cutter Aurora by 22 minutes and finishing nearly an hour ahead of the third boat, the schooner Bacchante.
Queen Victoria watched the race from her royal yacht, and at one point asked, "What is second?" after seeing America come over the horizon. Her attendant reportedly replied, "Your Majesty, there is no second."
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9324/ttst21994det2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Modern America's Cup competition
A few weeks after its victory, America was sold to an Irish nobleman for about $25,000, giving its owners a slim profit over what they paid for it.
America was purchased by the infant Confederate government in 1861 and renamed CSS Memphis. As the CSS Memphis, the former America served briefly as a Confederate blockade runner during the Civil War.
The Confederate navy sunk her in Florida to keep her from falling into Union hands, but she was found, raised, and rebuilt by the US Navy, which restored her original nameAmerica and used her as a Union blockade ship.
Meanwhile, the first owners of America deeded the Hundred Guinea Cup to the New York Yacht Club in 1857 to be put up as the prize in a perpetual international challenge competition.
The first race for the trophy, renamed The America's Cup, was not held until August 1870, when the British ship Cambria competed against 14 American yachts in Lower New York Bay. Cambria finished 10th.
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6700/ttcambria1870bif0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
"Cambria" of the Royal Thames Yacht Club
The schooner Magic won the race, and America, refitted by the navy for the occasion, finished fourth. After service as a navy training ship, America fell into disrepair under private owners. Today, it exists only in fragments.
From 1870 until the late 20th century, New York Yacht Club-sponsored U.S. yachts successfully defended the America's Cup 24 times in races generally spaced a few years apart. Since the 1920s, the America's Cup race has been between one defending vessel and one challenging vessel, both of which are determined by separate elimination trials.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9989/ttuntitledos2.png (http://imageshack.us)
New York Yacht Club members Biff, Skip, Trey, the Judge and Mortimer preparing to christen a new sloop
In 1983, the United States lost the trophy for the first time in 132 years when Australia II defeated Liberty off Newport, Rhode Island. The San Diego Yacht Club's Stars & Stripes returned the America's Cup to America in 1987 under skipper Dennis Connor.
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/449/ttimg2228pc0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Dennis Conner skipper of the 1987 America's Cup winner "Stars and Stripes"
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8052/ttamerica3ea6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
America³ (pronounced "America Cubed") is a racing syndicate that vied for the America's Cup in 1992 and 1995. The program was operated by Wichita billionaire Bill Koch and sailing legend Harry "Buddy" Melges in the 1992 America's Cup. After winning the Challanger Series, America³ defeated the Italian challenger Il Moro, owned by billionaire Raul Gardini's Il Moro di Venezia in the 1992 America's Cup.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4420/ttbkoch1992america3af1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Wichita bazillionaire Bill Koch
In 1995 Black Magic took the trophy home to New Zealand. Team New Zealand successfully defended its claim in 2000, defeating an Italian challenger in the first America's Cup final for which the U.S. did not qualify.
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3572/insane7zogv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9527/tt0030062lu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
155 years ago today, the US-built schooner America bests a fleet of Britain's finest ships in a race around England's Isle of Wight. The ornate silver trophy won by the America was later donated to the New York Yacht Club on condition that it be forever placed in international competition.
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7069/ttmidtown061aa2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The New York Yacht Club's mid-town clubhouse. The joint was donated by billionaire JP Morgan
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/760/ttcopyright19990902awdufresneii6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
One of the lounge areas of the New York Yacht Club in mid-town NYC. No shirt, no shoes, no service.
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3897/ttcopyright19991003awdufresnezc7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
NYYC main dining room over with a view of West 44th Street. Allegedly they make a pretty good fish sammich.
Today, the "America's Cup" is the world's oldest continually contested sporting trophy and represents the pinnacle of international sailing yacht competition.
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/6991/ttbodenloshd5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
A victor enjoying an adult beverage from the Cup
The history of the yacht America began with five members of the New York Yacht Club, who decided to build a state-of-the-art schooner to compete against British ships in conjunction with England's "Great Exposition" of 1851.
Designed by George Steers, the 100-foot, black-hulled America had a sharp bow, a V bottom, and tall masts, making it strikingly different from the traditional yachts of the day. In June 1851, America set sail from its shipyard on New York City's East River, bound for England. Manned by skipper William H. Brown and a crew of 12, America raced and overtook numerous ships during the Atlantic crossing.
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/255/ttamericazw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
America
After being outfitted and repainted in France, America sailed to Cowes on the Isle of Wight to challenge the best British sailboats in their own waters. At Cowes, America took on all comers for a match race, but no English yacht accepted the challenge. Finally, on August 22, America joined 14 British ships for a regatta around the Isle of Wight. The prize was the Hundred Guinea Cup, a 2-foot-high silver jug put up by the Royal Yacht Squadron.
In the 53-mile race, America trounced the competition, beating the cutter Aurora by 22 minutes and finishing nearly an hour ahead of the third boat, the schooner Bacchante.
Queen Victoria watched the race from her royal yacht, and at one point asked, "What is second?" after seeing America come over the horizon. Her attendant reportedly replied, "Your Majesty, there is no second."
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9324/ttst21994det2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Modern America's Cup competition
A few weeks after its victory, America was sold to an Irish nobleman for about $25,000, giving its owners a slim profit over what they paid for it.
America was purchased by the infant Confederate government in 1861 and renamed CSS Memphis. As the CSS Memphis, the former America served briefly as a Confederate blockade runner during the Civil War.
The Confederate navy sunk her in Florida to keep her from falling into Union hands, but she was found, raised, and rebuilt by the US Navy, which restored her original nameAmerica and used her as a Union blockade ship.
Meanwhile, the first owners of America deeded the Hundred Guinea Cup to the New York Yacht Club in 1857 to be put up as the prize in a perpetual international challenge competition.
The first race for the trophy, renamed The America's Cup, was not held until August 1870, when the British ship Cambria competed against 14 American yachts in Lower New York Bay. Cambria finished 10th.
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6700/ttcambria1870bif0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
"Cambria" of the Royal Thames Yacht Club
The schooner Magic won the race, and America, refitted by the navy for the occasion, finished fourth. After service as a navy training ship, America fell into disrepair under private owners. Today, it exists only in fragments.
From 1870 until the late 20th century, New York Yacht Club-sponsored U.S. yachts successfully defended the America's Cup 24 times in races generally spaced a few years apart. Since the 1920s, the America's Cup race has been between one defending vessel and one challenging vessel, both of which are determined by separate elimination trials.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9989/ttuntitledos2.png (http://imageshack.us)
New York Yacht Club members Biff, Skip, Trey, the Judge and Mortimer preparing to christen a new sloop
In 1983, the United States lost the trophy for the first time in 132 years when Australia II defeated Liberty off Newport, Rhode Island. The San Diego Yacht Club's Stars & Stripes returned the America's Cup to America in 1987 under skipper Dennis Connor.
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/449/ttimg2228pc0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Dennis Conner skipper of the 1987 America's Cup winner "Stars and Stripes"
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8052/ttamerica3ea6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
America³ (pronounced "America Cubed") is a racing syndicate that vied for the America's Cup in 1992 and 1995. The program was operated by Wichita billionaire Bill Koch and sailing legend Harry "Buddy" Melges in the 1992 America's Cup. After winning the Challanger Series, America³ defeated the Italian challenger Il Moro, owned by billionaire Raul Gardini's Il Moro di Venezia in the 1992 America's Cup.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4420/ttbkoch1992america3af1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Wichita bazillionaire Bill Koch
In 1995 Black Magic took the trophy home to New Zealand. Team New Zealand successfully defended its claim in 2000, defeating an Italian challenger in the first America's Cup final for which the U.S. did not qualify.
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3572/insane7zogv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)