AC History in San Diego
San Diego has strong historical ties to the America’s Cup, dating back to 1987 when San Diego Yacht Club’s Dennis Conner won the Cup in Freemantle, Australia. San Diego Yacht Club defended the America’s Cup successfully twice in 1988 and 1992, before losing to Team New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in 1995. San Diego’s three editions of the America’s Cup featured some of the most memorable moments in Cup history. In 1988, San Diego witnessed the first catamaran to compete in the America’s Cup. Then in 1995, the first all-women’s team, America3, competed to be the defender of the Cup and also in 1995, San Diego witnessed the sinking of One Australia, which still today sits on the bottom of the ocean just off San Diego.
San Diego has produced some of the world’s best sailors and boat designers and continues to attract the leading yachtsmen and women from around the world annually, hosting some of the world’s major sailing events on its waters. And now, the 2011 AC World Series San Diego brings the America’s Cup experience back to San Diego after almost a 16-year absence.