I remember a program on the cup history. Apparently the schooner America
sailed across with the intention of getting into individual races with money
bet on the outcome. A couple of British yachts met them on the way in and
engaged. After they were soundly thumped, no other yachts were willing to bet
against them. The powers that be were embarrassed and instituted the xx
guinea cup as a prize for an all out race. There were reports of some team
racing going on. America trounced them all soundly and when the queen asked
who came in second, the reply was that there was no second.
That apparently started the match race series; there is no second place.
At least, so the story went on the program.
Let the "snopes" investigations begin!
Ron
Wild Cheri
C&C 30
STL
________________________________
From: Chuck S <cscheaf...@comcast.net>
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2013 6:30 PM
Subject: Re: Stus-List americas cup plusses
Agree. The first America Cup contenders were schooners, then sloops of 120 ft,
sponsored by the rich elite with names such as Vanderbuilt, JP Morgan, Sir
Thomas Lipton.
The 12 meter yachts used after WWII were less expensive than the big J-boats
but the cup was never within reach of the average sailor. It's always been a
rich man's sport.
I know Nat Herreschoff would approve of the foiling catamarans in carbon fiber.
He always liked trying new things. He raced his own 20' catamaran in the 1880
or 1890's.
Chuck
Resolute
1990 C&C 34R
Atlantic City, NJ
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