THE AMERICA'S CUP RETURNS TO ROYAL NEW ZEALAND YACHT SQUADRON
The America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport, is back in New Zealand after being engraved with the results of the 35th America's Cup and being given a maintenance check by the House of Garrard in London.
The House of Garrard, designers and manufacturers of luxury jewellery and silver, was founded by George Wickes in London in 1735. They hold the Royal Warrant as Jewellers, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths and have done since being appointed by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1735.
Garrard produced the Cup in 1848 and it was originally an ornate sterling silver bottomless ewer. The Cup was first awarded in 1851 by the Royal Yacht Squadron for the 100 Guinea’s Cup – a race around the Isle of Wight in England – which was won by the schooner America.
Reportedly Queen Victoria presented the trophy to the winners of the 1851 race having famously asked “who was second?” and was told, “There is no second!”
In its 167 year history, bases have been added to the original ewer and the trophy has been increasing in size as the results of each America’s Cup match race is recorded.
“Maintenance of such an old silver Cup is a skilled work and Garrard was a natural choice because of our history and experience in this field,” said Claire Scott, Head of Design at House of Garrard.
To maintain the traditions, with the agreement of previous winners, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has decided to put a replacement bottom tier on the Cup and it has had the necessary race records engraved again in the traditional size and font. There will be enough space left to also record the results of the 36th America's Cup in Auckland 2021 and beyond.
The America’s Cup now has the new history engraved:
AMERICA’S CUP XXXV JUNE 2017
BERMUDA
ORACLE TEAM USA
GOLDEN GATE YACHT CLUB
VS
EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND - AOTEAROA
ROYAL NEW ZEALAND YACHT SQUADRON
17 JUNE, RACE 1 WON BY ETNZ AOTEAROA BY 30 SEC.
17 JUNE, RACE 2 WON BY ETNZ AOTEAROA BY 1 MIN. 27 SEC.
18 JUNE, RACE 3 WON BY ETNZ AOTEAROA BY 48 SEC.
18 JUNE, RACE 4 WON BY ETNZ AOTEAROA BY 1 MIN 11 SEC.
24 JUNE, RACE 5 WON BY ETNZ AOTEAROA BY 2 MIN 4 SEC.
24 JUNE, RACE 6 WON BY ORACLE TEAM USA BY 11 SEC
25 JUNE, RACE 7 WON BY ETNZ AOTEAROA BY 11 SEC
25 JUNE, RACE 8 WON BY ETNZ AOTEAROA BY 29 SEC
26 JUNE, RACE 9 WON BY ETNZ AOTEAROA BY 54 SEC