The 30th Anniversary Louis Vuitton Cup
The Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series, is the regatta that determines which challenger races the defender in the America’s Cup Finals.
Scheduled July 7-August 30, three teams are entered in the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup: Artemis Racing of Sweden, Emirates Team New Zealand, and Luna Rossa Challenge of Italy.
Significantly, 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the first Louis Vuitton Cup, which first took place in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1983. It was an auspicious debut, as the winner of the first Louis Vuitton Cup, Australia II, went on to become the first challenger in the 132-history of the America’s Cup to beat the defender and take the Cup from the United States.
Prior to the first Louis Vuitton Cup in 1983, no challenger had ever found success in defeating the U.S. defender. Just three and a half years later, however, a similar storyline played out. Racing off Fremantle, Western Australia, the new host to the America’s Cup after Australia II’s victory, American skipper Dennis Conner became the second skipper to win the Louis Vuitton Cup and follow it up with a victory in the 1987 America’s Cup.
Those back-to-back victories by the challenger in the span of three and a half years, after more than 130 years of futility, spawned a brilliant slogan: “To win the America’s Cup, first win the Louis Vuitton Cup.” It was marketing genius backed up by success on the water, and this winning combination has been carried on through the years. History shows there have been seven Louis Vuitton Cup regattas, and the winner has advanced to win the America’s Cup four times.
“This summer, Louis Vuitton celebrates the 30th anniversary of its partnership with the America’s Cup. We’ve taken great pride over these years in awarding the Louis Vuitton Cup to the team that outshines all the others to become the Challenger for the America’s Cup,” said Michael Burke, the CEO of Louis Vuitton Cup.
Louis Vuitton Cup History
The Louis Vuitton Cup winner has advanced to win the America’s Cup four times since 1983. A quick look at the results:
1983 Winner: Australia II, America’s Cup Result: Won (4-3)
1987 Winner: Stars & Stripes 87, America’s Cup Result: Won (4-0)
1992 Winner: Il Moro di Venezia, America’s Cup Result: Lost (5-1)
1995 Winner: Team New Zealand, America’s Cup Result: Won (5-0)
2000 Winner: Luna Rossa, America’s Cup Result: Lost (5-0)
2003 Winner: Alinghi, America’s Cup Result: Won (5-0)
2007 Winner: Team New Zealand, America’s Cup Result: Lost (5-2)
Get more America's Cup: