-
THE AMERICA’S CUP
Regarded as the pinnacle of international yacht racing, the America’s Cup dates back to 1851 when the schooner ‘America’ crossed the Atlantic from New York as a representative of US yachting ingenuity with the intention of challenging the best of the British fleet in speed trials. The ‘America’ was a sensation, winning a race around the Isle of Wight in the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Annual Regatta on 22nd August 1851 for what was then known as the '£100 Cup'.
Now the oldest trophy in international sports, contested uniquely under the competition’s presiding Deed of Gift, the winner of the America’s Cup Match earns the right to organise the subsequent edition — including choosing the location, the date, the rules, and deciding the design of the competing boats in agreement with the Challenger of Record.
-
FROM 1851 TO NOW
THERE IS NO SECONDUpon returning to New York, the original syndicate members of the ‘America’ had thoughts of melting down the silver ewer to create commemorative medals. Thankfully this didn’t happen and on July 8th 1857 the yacht’s owning syndicate renamed the trophy the 'America’s Cup' and donated it, under a Deed of Gift – the iterations of which have guided the Cup to the present day – to the New York Yacht Club as a “challenge cup for friendly competition between foreign countries.”
American boats successfully defended the trophy 24 times from 1870 through 1980—until in 1983 ‘Australia II’ became the first ever successful Challenger to defeat the New York Yacht Club and take the Cup away from US shores.
The America's Cup - 172 Years of History
-
INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE
technology, teamwork, and traditionThe America’s Cup is the pinnacle of technological innovation and engineering in competitive sailing and represents a dynamic fusion of sport, technology, and innovation. Yacht development is an interdisciplinary collaboration to pioneer advancements in material sciences, aerodynamics, and hydrodynamics. Sailing teams reflect this diversity, blending expertise not only from the world’s best sailors but also from disciplines such as cycling, rowing, and other sports – creating an environment where varied skill sets converge to achieve excellence.
The America’s Cup is more than a race: it is a platform for groundbreaking innovation with the potential to inspire global audiences across industries, sports interests, and generations. The America’s Cup showcases the intersection of sport and engineering, proving that excellence on water starts with innovation on land.
-
THE ‘AULD MUG’
THE TROPHYIn 1848 the America’s Cup, affectionately known as the ‘Auld Mug,’ was crafted by Messrs R&S Garrard & Co. of Panton Street, London. An ornate sterling silver bottomless ewer, it was bought and donated by Henry William Paget, the 1st Marquess of Anglesey.
The original trophy is 68.6 cm high, 91.4 cm circumference of body and 61 cm of base and weighs 3.8 kg. Today the Cup is much taller than the original due to additional pedestals. The first was added in 1958 to make room for more engravings, and the second in 1992.
A total of 13 boats that ‘America’ beat in the first race are engraved, listed separately as Cutters and Schooners, but a feature of the inscription is that the name of ‘Aurora,’ the yacht that was second in the race, does not appear on the Cup making it literally true, in the record at least, that: “There is no second”. -
THE DEED OF GIFT
THE MOST EXPENSIVE DOCUMENT IN SPORTS HISTORYFirst written in 1857 when the 'RYS £100 Challenge Cup' was gifted to the New York Yacht Club by George L. Schuyler on behalf of the surviving seven-man syndicate owners of the yacht 'America', the Deed of Gift has ruled the event ever since. Gifting the trophy, it became ‘America’s Cup’ named after the schooner that won the race around the Isle of Wight on 22nd August 1851.
Subsequently re-written and amended, many of the elements remain from what is known as the ‘Original Deed of Gift’ with the famous phrase “friendly competition between foreign countries” still present. The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, having defended the 37th America’s Cup in 2024, holds the silver trophy known today as the 'America’s Cup' in accordance with the terms of the Deed of Gift dated 24 October 1887. -
WINNING THE CUP
OBSESSION & DETERMINATIONSince 1851, in more than 170 years, only four countries have won the America’s Cup: USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland. The New York Yacht Club holds the record for the longest winning streak in sports history having defended the Cup 25 times since the first race in 1851 (and the first challenge in 1870) – a record that spanned 132 years. The Royal Perth Yacht Club defeated the New York Yacht Club in 1983 with its winged-keeled wonder, ‘Australia II’, marking a new era of the modern Cup history.
With the win in 2024, Emirates Team New Zealand became the first team to ever win the Cup three consecutive times, making them the most successful team in the history of the America’s Cup.
CHASING THE CUP
UNDERSTANDING THE DEFENDER AND CHALLENGER ROLES
-
In the America’s Cup, two primary roles drive the competition: the Defender and the Challenger.
The DEFENDER is the current holder of the America’s Cup, responsible for organising the next event and setting the terms for the competition. They typically represent the yacht club that won the previous edition of the Cup. The Defender’s primary goal is to protect their title by successfully winning (or defending) the Cup in the upcoming races. They are heavily involved in setting up the race logistics, including selecting the location, the boat designs, and regulations for the Match.The CHALLENGER, on the other hand, is the yacht club and their representative team that eventually competes against the Defender for the Cup. To become the Challenger for the America’s Cup, a team must win a series of qualification stages events of the “Challenger Selection Series” the purpose of which is to find the strongest team to race the Defender. The best-performing team in this series earns the right to compete for the America’s Cup. Once the Defender and Challenger are determined, they engage in a series of highly competitive match races. This unique dynamic adds to the strategic excitement and rich history of the America’s Cup.
The CHALLENGER OF RECORD is the team that initially challenges the Defender, kick-starting the next edition of the America’s Cup. This team plays a key role in the early stages of the event, helping to set the rules and framework for the competition alongside the Defender, ensuring the event is organised competitively and includes the interests of a fleet of Challengers.