The Louis Vuitton Cup

Regarded as the pinnacle of international yacht racing, the America’s Cup dates back to 1851 when the schooner ‘America’ crossed the Atlantic from New York as a representative of American yachting ingenuity with the intention of challenging the best of the British fleet in speed trials. The ‘America’ was a sensation, winning a race around the Isle of Wight in the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Annual Regatta on 22nd August 1851 for what was then known as the £100 Cup.

Upon returning to New York, the original syndicate members of the ‘America’ had thoughts of melting down the silver ewer to create commemorative medals. Thankfully this didn’t happen and on July 8th 1857 the yacht’s owning syndicate renamed the trophy the America’s Cup and donated it, under a Deed of Gift, the iterations of which have guided the Cup to the present day, to the New York Yacht Club as a “challenge cup for friendly competition between foreign countries.” American boats successfully defended the trophy 24 times from 1870 through 1980—until in 1983 ‘Australia II’ became the first ever successful challenger to defeat the New York Yacht Club and take the Cup away from American shores.

Fremantle, Perth, in Western Australia was the first venue outside of the United States to host the America’s Cup in 1987. The Cup was won that year by the San Diego Yacht Club and remained in the USA until in 1995, the New Zealand ‘Black Magic’ team won in sensational fashion.