This race is one of the longest held yacht race challenges for a sporting trophy of the world and for any sport. The Auld cup was originally awarded in 1851 by the Royal Yacht Squadron for a race around the Isle of Wight in the UK which was won by the schooner America.
The trophy is awarded to the winner of match races between two sailing yachts/clubs. The defender holds the cup and the challenger represents the challenging yacht club. By agreement, the timing is set between the two parties and the winning yacht then holds the cup under the terms of the Deed of Gift which allows the cup to be available for perpetual international competition. Any yacht club that meets the requirements specified in the deed of gift has the right to challenge for the cup. Until 1970 only one yacht challenged for the cup. Today, yachts compete for the right to challenge for the cup.
This is the Formula 1 of yacht racing with the worlds best sailors, yacht designers and wealthy individuals challenging for the prestigious cup. The cup was held and defended 24 times in a row by the NYYC from 1857 until 1983 when Australia II of the Royal Perth Yacht Club won the cup. This was the longest time in terms of dates for a trophy to be defended in any sport.
In more recent times there have been numerous legal proceedings in relation to rules and rule changes including the types of yachts that are able to be used to challenge and defend the cup.
The yachts have certainly changed from the original challenger and defenders with the sport leading the way with new designs and technology.
Dennis Conner probably remains the most famous America’s Cup skipper in history after losing the cup to Australia ending a 132-year winning streak but when looking at his entire career, Dennis successfully defended the cup in 1980, 1987 and in 1988. Effectively successfully defending 75% of the time and in terms of races as skipper wins, 13 wins against 5 losses. Dennis did win it back after the loss.
John Bertrand & Dennis Conner
Russell Coutts 
Dennis Conner
The challenges have seen the emergence of many skilled and well regarded skippers. Most notably after John Bertrand who skippered Australia II would have to be Russell Coutts of New Zealand who has not lost ever when racing for the cup. Russell has won the cup five times, including consecutively as a skipper in 1995, 2000 and 2003. Interestingly Russell has won the Cup for three countries – USA, New Zealand and Switzerland.
Although it is quite a stretch to be in a position to sail the for the Cup, take the opportunity when and if you can to watch the challenge for the cup wherever it may be defended and connect with the history, the excitement and technology that is leading sailing into super performance yachting.
