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1984 - 1986
Following his defeat, Dennis Conner is dropped by the New York Yacht Club, but mounts his own challenge under his home San Diego Yacht Club, called the Sail America Foundation For International Understanding.
It proves to be the most professional, consumate program the America's Cup has ever seen. Five boats are involved, the 'old' Spirit of America (1982) partially rebuilt and re-named Stars & Stripes '83, Liberty (1983) as yardstick and three new 12-metres.
The first one is Stars & Stripes '85, followed by a new faster radical hull, Stars & Stripes'86, built to take advantage of heavy seas and the strong winds expected in Fremantle. All the research and tests go into the final boat, Stars & Stripes '87.
1986
The three new Stars & Stripes are shipped to Fremantle. The match between the three boats and particularly '86 and '87 is even, but finally Stars & Stripes '87 is chosen to race the 1986-87 Louis Vuitton Cup.
The Vuitton Cup starts off Fremantle on October 5, 1986. There are 13 challenger candidates: American Eagle, Heart of America, America II, USA, Courageous IV, Stars & Stripes, Canada II, Azzurrra IV, Italia, White Crusader, Challenge France, French Kiss and New Zealand.
1986 - 1987
The Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals are sailed from December 28, 1986 to January 2, 1987, with New Zealand and French Kiss on one side, and USA against Stars & Stripes on the other. Stars & Stripes beats USA in four close matches.
The Louis Vuitton Cup final is sailed from January 13 to 19 between New Zealand and Stars & Stripes.
Stars & Stripes '87 beats New Zealand by four wins to one. By winning the Louis Vuitton Cup, Dennis Conner is selected with his 12-metre as the official challenger of the 26th America's Cup.
The America's Cup
31 January to 4 February, 1987, off Fremantle, Western Australia
Stars & Stripes races against Kookaburra III in the best of seven race series
Course
The course is a 24.1 nautical mile triangular course with windward-leeward loops.
Results
- January 31, first race. Course direction: 225° on leg one. Wind speed: 8 to 18 knots. Wave height: 0.1 to 0.5 m. Stars & Stripes beats Kookaburra III by one minute and 41 seconds.
- February 1, second race. Course direction: 195° on leg one. Wind speed: 22 to 23 knots. Wave height: 1.0 to 1.2 m. Stars & Stripes beats Kookaburra III by one minute and 10 seconds.
- February 2, third race. Course direction: 210° on leg one. Wind speed: 12 to 18 knots. Wave height: 0.1 to 0.3 m. Stars & Stripes beats Kookaburra III by one minute and 46 seconds.
- February 4, fourth race. Course direction: 220° on leg one. Changed to 210° on leg three. Wind speed: 16 to 20 knots. Wave height: 0.3 to 1.6 m. Stars & Stripes beats Kookaburra III by one minute and 59 seconds.
Stars & Stripes beats Kookaburra III by four wins to nil
Kookaburra III is defeated and loses the 1987 America's Cup defence.
1988 - 1989
The America's Cup Organising Committee own Stars & Stripes'87. It is based in San Diego.
1992 - 1994
George F. Jewett, Jr. owns Stars & Stripes'87. Its homeport is San Francisco, California, United States.
1996
Dennis Conner Sports, Inc., own the boat, based in San Diego. The boat is included in the America's Cup Yacht Racing fleet at Saint Marteen, in the Caribbean.
2005
Stars & Stripes'87 US 55 is still sailing at St. Marteen. It is in almost its original configuration and sails for charter.
Stars & Stripes '87
1987
Sail number: US 55
International 12-metre rule sloop
United States
Yacht club: San Diego Yacht Club, San Diego, California, USA
Successful challenger of the 1987 America's Cup
Owner: Sail America Foundation for International Understanding. President: Malin Burnham
Executive director: Sandy Purdon
Design team coordinator: John Marshall
Designers: Britton Chance, Jr., Bruce Nelson, David Pedrick
Technical coordinator: Dr. Nils Salvesen
Testing facilities: Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).
Flight Research Institute of Boeing Company (Seattle).
Fluid dynamics expertise: Grumman Aerospace (New York)
Tank test facilities: Offshore Technology Corporation, Escondido, California, United States
Builder: Robert E. Derecktor of Rhodes Island, Inc. at Mamaroneck, New York, United States
Keel builder: Keelco, Inc., Wilmington, California, United States
Boat re-modeler: Geraghty Marine, San Diego, United States
Christened: July 14, 1986, at the University of Hawaii Marine Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Sailmakers: Sobstad sails, North Sails, We Be Guessing (WBG).
Sailing program co-ordinator: Jack Stutphen.
Sail manager: William Petersen
Mast: Sparcraft
Winches: Lewmar
Hydraulics: Navtec
Electronic: Ockam
Computer: DEC
Year of building: 1986
Launched: July 1986
Homeport: San Diego, United States
Skipper: Dennis Conner
Afterguard: Tom A. Whidden as tactician and Peter Isler as navigator. Mainsheet trimmer: John Wright.
Crew: 11.
Data
Construction: Aluminum alloy
Dimensions
Length overall (LOA): 20.23m
Length waterline (LWL): 13.92m
Beam: 3.81m
Draft: 2.96m
Sail area: 164.70m2
Displacement: 28.180 tonnes
Mast: 25m
J.T./nc
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Year of building
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1986 |
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Launched
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14/7/1986 |
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Edition 26(1987)
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|
Crew
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11 |
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Hull
|
Aluminium |
|
Mast
|
Aluminium |
|
L.O.A
|
20.23 |
|
L.W.L
|
13.92 |
|
Mast
|
25 |
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Beam
|
3.81 |
|
Boom
|
|
|
Sail Area
|
|
|
Displacament
|
28.18 |
|
Draft
|
2.96 |
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Rating
|
12 Meter |
|
Ballast
|
|
|
)
