1987 Louis Vuitton Cup
Encyclopedia
| 2nd Louis Vuitton Cup | |
|---|---|
| Date | 5 October 1986 - 23 January 1987 |
| Winner |  Stars & StripesStars & Stripes (yacht) Stars & Stripes is the name of a series of racing yachts operated by Dennis Conner to compete in the America's Cup. The name "Stars & Stripes" refers to the nickname often used for the flag of the United States.- 12-metre class yachts :1987 America's Cup... |
| Location | Fremantle Fremantle, Western Australia Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
The 2nd Louis Vuitton Cup
Louis Vuitton Cup
The Louis Vuitton Cup is a yachting competition connected with the America's Cup. The Louis Vuitton Cup was used as the selection series to select the team to sail as the challenger in the America's Cup...
was held in Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1987. The winner, Stars & Stripes
Stars & Stripes (yacht)
Stars & Stripes is the name of a series of racing yachts operated by Dennis Conner to compete in the America's Cup. The name "Stars & Stripes" refers to the nickname often used for the flag of the United States.- 12-metre class yachts :1987 America's Cup...
, went on to challenge for and win the 1987 America's Cup
1987 America's Cup
The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-seventh challenge for the America's Cup and the first time for 132 years that it had not been defended by the New York Yacht Club....
.
The teams
Twelve syndicates from six countries (Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States) competed in 25 boats for the right to challenge. A further two syndicates entered but failed to compete in the Cup itself. The first syndicates arrived in Fremantle in 1984 with most having established a presence by late 1985 for the 1986 12-Metre World Championships.It was estimated that the foreign syndicates spent $200M in the challenge efforts.
| Club | Team | Skipper | Yachts |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Yacht Club New York Yacht Club The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ... |
US Merchant Marine Academy Foundation | John Kolius John Kolius John Kolius is an American sailor. He won a silver medal in the Soling Class with Walter Glasgow and Richard Hoepfner at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. In 1987 and 2000 he competed at the Louis Vuitton Cup .-References:... |
America II (US-42, US-44 & US-46) |
| Chicago Yacht Club Chicago Yacht Club The Chicago Yacht Club is located in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Yacht Club is best known for organizing the Chicago to Mackinac Race each July. It also hosts dozens of other races and regattas throughout the season.- History :... |
Heart of America Challenge | Buddy Melges Buddy Melges Harry "Buddy" Melges, Jr., is one of the most successful competitive sailors in history, with dozens of national and international championships in many different classes, including ice-boating as well as conventional sailing... |
Heart of America (US 51), Clipper (US 32) |
| Newport Harbor Yacht Club |
American Eagle Foundation | Rod Davis |
Eagle (US 60), Magic (US 38) |
| St. Francis Yacht Club |
Golden Gate Foundation | Tom Blackaller Tom Blackaller Thomas David Blackaller, Jr. was a world-champion American yachtsman, America's Cup helmsman, sailmaker, and racecar competitor... |
USA I (US 49), USA II (US 61) |
| San Diego Yacht Club San Diego Yacht Club San Diego Yacht Club is a yacht club located in San Diego Bay. Its address is 1011 Anchorage Lane, San Diego, CA 92106. It is located in Point Loma across from a spit of land known as Shelter Island.- Facilities :... |
Sail America Foundation | Dennis Conner Dennis Conner Dennis Conner is an American yachtsman, noted for winning the bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics, two Star World Championships, and four wins in the America's Cup.-America's Cup:... |
Liberty (US 40), Stars & Stripes 83 (US 36), Stars and Stripes 85 (US 54), Stars and Stripes 86 (US 56) and Stars and Stripes 87 (US 55) Stars & Stripes 87 Stars & Stripes 87 was the 12 Meter challenge boat sailed by Dennis Conner in his bid to reclaim the America’s Cup from the Royal Perth Yacht Club of Australia in 1987.-Design and Development:... |
| Yale Corinthian Yacht Club Yale Corinthian Yacht Club Yale Corinthian Yacht Club is the home yacht club for the Yale University Coed and Women's Sailing Teams. It is located at 179 Clark Avenue in Branford, Connecticut... |
Courageous Challenge Courageous (yacht) Courageous is a 12-metre class yacht. It was the third boat to win the America's Cup twice, in 1974 and 1977, after Intrepid in 1967 and 1970, and Columbia in 1899 and 1901. All three of these boats won for the NYYC and thus the United States... |
David Vietor |
Courageous IV (US 26) |
 Yacht Club Costa SmeraldaYacht Club Costa Smeralda Yacht Club Costa Smeralda was established by the Aga Khan in 1967. It is situated at Porto Cervo in Costa Smeralda, northern Sardinia and provides services for recreational sailors.... |
Azzurra Azzurra Azzurra is a yacht racing team that competes in America's Cup style sailing out of the yacht club Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.-Early history:Managed by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and funded by Aga Khan IV and Gianni Agnelli, Azzurra began to compete in 1982... |
Lorenzo Bortolotti |
Azzurra I (I-4), Azzurra II (I-8), Azzurra III (I-10), Azzurra IV (I-11) |
| Yacht Club Italiano Yacht Club Italiano The Yacht Club Italiano is a yacht club in Genoa, Italy. It was founded in 1879 and is one of the oldest sailing clubs in the Mediterranean. This club was bestowed Royal Patronage by HRH King Umberto I of Italy since its inception.... |
Consorzio Italia | Flavio Scala & Aldo Migliaccio |
Victory 83 (I 6), Italia I (I 7) & Italia II (I 9) |
 Société des Régates Rochelaises |
Challenge Kis France | Marc Pajot Marc Pajot Yves Pajot is a French sailor. He won a silver medal in the Flying Dutchman Class with his brother Yves at the 1972 Summer Olympics. From 1987 to 2000 he competed four times at the Louis Vuitton Cup .-References:... |
Freedom (US 30), Enterprise (US 27), French Kiss (F 7) |
| Société Nautique de Marseilles |
Marseilles Syndicate | Yves Pajot Yves Pajot Yves Pajot is a French sailor. He won a silver medal in the Flying Dutchman Class with his brother Marc at the 1972 Summer Olympics. In 1987 he competed at the Louis Vuitton Cup .-References:* at sports-reference.com... |
Challenge 12 (F 5), France 3 (F 3), Challenge France (F 4) |
 Royal Nova Scotia Yacht SquadronRoyal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron The Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron is a yacht club located on the Northwest Arm of Halifax Harbour in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Primarily a sailing club, the RNSYS also offers instructional programs and on water activities for all ages.... & Secret Cove Yacht Club |
Secret Cove/True North challenge | Terry Neilson |
True North, Canada I/Canada II (KC 1) |
| Mercury Bay Boating Club | Kiwi Magic | Chris Dickson Chris Dickson (sailor) Christopher Stuart Dickson, born 3 November 1961 in Auckland, is an internationally known sailor from New Zealand. He was world youth champion three years in succession and later became world match race champion three times... |
New Zealand (KZ 3), New Zealand (KZ 5) and New Zealand KZ 7 New Zealand "Kiwi Magic" was the America's Cup challenge boat sailed by Chris Dickson in the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger series held in Gage Roads off Fremantle, Australia during the summer months of 1986 through 1987... (KZ 7) |
| Royal Thames Yacht Club Royal Thames Yacht Club The Royal Thames Yacht Club is the oldest sailing club in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are located at 60 Knightsbridge, London, England, overlooking Hyde Park.... |
British America's Cup Challenge |  Harold CudmoreHarold Cudmore Harold Cudmore is an Irish sailor.Born and raised in Cork, Harold Cudmore became an internationally famous yacht racing skipper and match racer.... |
White Crusader I (K 24) & White Crusader II (K 25) |
US Merchant Marine Academy Foundation (USA)
The syndicate from New York Yacht ClubNew York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
was the first foreign syndicate to arrive at Fremantle in 1984. It had two 12-Metre boats, US-42 and US-44 (both named America II) sailing in the following year, skippered by John Kolius
John Kolius
John Kolius is an American sailor. He won a silver medal in the Soling Class with Walter Glasgow and Richard Hoepfner at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. In 1987 and 2000 he competed at the Louis Vuitton Cup .-References:...
. A third sister boat, US-46 arrived shortly after. The challenge cost the NYYC $15M.
Heart of America Challenge (USA)
Heart of America was from the Chicago Yacht ClubChicago Yacht Club
The Chicago Yacht Club is located in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Yacht Club is best known for organizing the Chicago to Mackinac Race each July. It also hosts dozens of other races and regattas throughout the season.- History :...
and used 1980 defender candidate Clipper as a trial horse. After receiving commercial support from the Chrysler Corporation the team built Heart of America (US 51) to sail in the Cup. Because of concerns about the "arm of the sea" clause of the Deed of Gift of the America's Cup, the Royal Perth Yacht Club requested and received an interpretive ruling from the New York Supreme Court to allow a challenge from a club based on the Great Lakes. The boat was skippered by Buddy Melges
Buddy Melges
Harry "Buddy" Melges, Jr., is one of the most successful competitive sailors in history, with dozens of national and international championships in many different classes, including ice-boating as well as conventional sailing...
.
Eagle Foundation (USA)
From the Newport Harbour Yacht Club, the Eagle syndicate was based in Newport Harbor, California. The skipper was Rod Davis and designer was Johan Valentijn. The syndicate purchased Magic, a 1983 light displacement Johan Valentijn design, and retrofitted the vessel with a Joop Sloof designed wing keel similar to Australia II. Magic was fitted with Optim data acquisition equipment and extensively tested in Newport, Rhode Island. Data from these tests, large scale model testing and design assistance from BoeingBoeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, and Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
senior engineers resulted in Johan Valentijn's design Eagle. This 12 meter was close in size to Liberty, but due to a very low center of gravity winged keel design was optimised for Fremantle conditions. Eagle was shipped to Perth while Magic remained in the United States of America.
Golden Gate Foundation (USA)
From the St Francis Yacht Club, supported by the city of San Francisco and its mayor Diane Feinstein, the foundation first built a conventional 12-Metre USA I (US 49). They then developed USA II (US 61), a boat with a radical twin rudder design and a thin long keel with a torpedo shaped bulb on the tip, the twin rudder design had one traditionally at the rear and one at the bow. This boat was slower than the faster boats upwind but seriously faster off the wind against most others. The Skipper was Tom BlackallerTom Blackaller
Thomas David Blackaller, Jr. was a world-champion American yachtsman, America's Cup helmsman, sailmaker, and racecar competitor...
, who had skippered Defender in the 1980 America's Cup.
Sail America Foundation (USA)
After the 1983 loss, Dennis ConnerDennis Conner
Dennis Conner is an American yachtsman, noted for winning the bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics, two Star World Championships, and four wins in the America's Cup.-America's Cup:...
found sponsors and built a syndicate to challenge for the America's Cup. Based at the San Diego Yacht Club
San Diego Yacht Club
San Diego Yacht Club is a yacht club located in San Diego Bay. Its address is 1011 Anchorage Lane, San Diego, CA 92106. It is located in Point Loma across from a spit of land known as Shelter Island.- Facilities :...
, the syndicate made use of Conner's 1983 America's Cup defender Liberty (US 40) and refit the 1982 built Spirit Of America (US 34), re-commissioning her as Stars and Stripes 83 (US 53). In addition, they commissioned the building of three new boats: Stars and Stripes 85 (US 54), Stars and Stripes 86 (US 56) and Stars and Stripes 87 (US 55). Conner practiced for the Freemantle conditions by training in Hawaii, taking the three new boats with him down to Fremantle to compete for the Cup.
Courageous Challenge (USA)
From the Yale Corinthian Yacht ClubYale Corinthian Yacht Club
Yale Corinthian Yacht Club is the home yacht club for the Yale University Coed and Women's Sailing Teams. It is located at 179 Clark Avenue in Branford, Connecticut...
, sailing Courageous, winner of the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
in 1974 and 1977. The boat had been heavily redesigned and updated to make her more competitive for the 1987 campaign. Unfortunately she was largely outclassed by the competition, winning just one race (over Challenge France) but losing to the major contenders by eight to ten minutes an outing. The team withdrew from the Cup before the end of the first round.
Consorzio Italia (Italy)
From Yacht Club ItalianoYacht Club Italiano
The Yacht Club Italiano is a yacht club in Genoa, Italy. It was founded in 1879 and is one of the oldest sailing clubs in the Mediterranean. This club was bestowed Royal Patronage by HRH King Umberto I of Italy since its inception....
, the Consorzio Italia syndicate was backed by Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
. The syndicate was inspired by the success of Azzurra
Azzurra
Azzurra is a yacht racing team that competes in America's Cup style sailing out of the yacht club Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.-Early history:Managed by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and funded by Aga Khan IV and Gianni Agnelli, Azzurra began to compete in 1982...
in 1983 and began by purchasing Victory '83 to give them a bench mark. The boats were skippered by Flavio Scala and Aldo Migliaccio, with Italophile Rod Davis in the afterguard. Italia II was seriously damaged during its launch but was repaired in time for the Cup.
Azzurra (Italy)
AzzurraAzzurra
Azzurra is a yacht racing team that competes in America's Cup style sailing out of the yacht club Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.-Early history:Managed by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and funded by Aga Khan IV and Gianni Agnelli, Azzurra began to compete in 1982...
was the challenger of record for 1987. From the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda was established by the Aga Khan in 1967. It is situated at Porto Cervo in Costa Smeralda, northern Sardinia and provides services for recreational sailors....
and backed by the Aga Khan
Aga Khan
Aga Khan is the hereditary title of the Imam of the largest branch of the Ismā'īlī followers of the Shī‘a faith. They affirm the Imamat of the descendants of Ismail ibn Jafar, eldest son of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, while the larger Twelver branch of Shi`ism follows Ismail's younger brother Musa...
, the syndicate eventually had four boats at its disposal. Azzurra I (I-4) competed in the 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup
1983 Louis Vuitton Cup
The 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup was held in Newport, Rhode Island, United States in 1983. The winner, Australia II, went on to challenge for the 1983 America's Cup.-The teams:-Australia II :...
at Newport. Then Azzurra II (I-8) managed to come fifth in the 1986 World Championships, a disappointing result which prompted the construction of two new boats, Azzurra III (I-10) and IV (I-11), from competing designers.
Challenge Kis France (France)
From the Societe des Regates Rochelaise yacht club, the Challenge Kis France was skippered by Marc Pajot. The boat performed well, winning the second and seventh race in the World Championship series. The syndicate was owned by French businessman, Serge CrasnianskiSerge Crasnianski
Serge Crasnianski born 3rd July 1942 is a French entrepreneur who founded in 1963 the Grenoble based Key Independent System . This is the company that brought to the world the compact machine that cuts keys, prints business cards, engraves bracelets etc and can be seen in thousands of corner...
who invested $10 million in the challenge. He later estimated that the venture may have cost his company as much as $70 million in lost revenue. His company, KIS France developed an instant photo development system in 1981 which cornered 60 percent of the world photo laboratory market. The RPYC challenged the legality of the French Kiss name, claiming that it was too commercial being associated with the KIS photo-labs. However, the name was subsequently cleared by an international jury.
Marseilles Syndicate (France)
The Societe Nautique de Marseilles challenge began with the purchase of France 3 and Challenge 12 and the confirmation of skipper Yves Pajot, brother of Marc Pajot (French Kiss syndicate skipper). However, soon after the construction of Challenge France that the syndicates financial position became known, and it was in deep financial difficulty.New Zealand Challenge (New Zealand)
Originally backed by Marcel Fachler, and later Michael FayMichael Fay (banker)
Sir Michael Fay is a New Zealand merchant banker and partner in the merchant bank Fay Richwhite. He was educated at St Peter's College, Auckland, St Patrick's College, Silverstream and Victoria University of Wellington ....
, the team consisted of several Fibreglass boats designed by Ron Holland, Bruce Farr and Laurie Davidson. KZ 3 and KZ 5 were built identically and KZ 7
KZ 7
New Zealand "Kiwi Magic" was the America's Cup challenge boat sailed by Chris Dickson in the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger series held in Gage Roads off Fremantle, Australia during the summer months of 1986 through 1987...
was then developed after further testing. Skippered by Chris Dickson
Chris Dickson (sailor)
Christopher Stuart Dickson, born 3 November 1961 in Auckland, is an internationally known sailor from New Zealand. He was world youth champion three years in succession and later became world match race champion three times...
, the crew were: Brad Butterworth
Brad Butterworth
Bradley William Butterworth, OBE is a world-renowned yachtsman known for the role he played as tactician and skipper in the America's Cup for Team New Zealand and the Alinghi team of Switzerland.He was born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand in 1959...
, Ed Danby, Simon Daubney, Brian Phillimore, Mike Quilter, Tony Rae, Jeremy Scantlebury, Kevin Shoebridge, Andrew Taylor and Erle Williams.
Secret Cove/TrueNorth (Canada)
A combined challenge from Canada's Secret Cove Yacht Club and Royal Nova Scotia Yacht SquadronRoyal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron
The Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron is a yacht club located on the Northwest Arm of Halifax Harbour in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Primarily a sailing club, the RNSYS also offers instructional programs and on water activities for all ages....
. True North performed well in the World Championships and was heavily modified afterwards. Canada I was designed by Bruce Kirby and became Canada II after being heavily redesigned before the event began. The two teams merged after both were unable to attract the big name sponsors needed for a serious challenge. After extensive trialing, only Canada II was sent to Freemantle.
British America's Cup Challenge (United Kingdom)
From the Royal Thames Yacht ClubRoyal Thames Yacht Club
The Royal Thames Yacht Club is the oldest sailing club in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are located at 60 Knightsbridge, London, England, overlooking Hyde Park....
, White Crusader was designed by Ian Howlett and was a traditional 12 metre design evolved from the DeSavery Lionhart '83 boat of the previous Americas Cup event. However, White Crusader II was a radical design and designed by David Hollam. This second boat was used as a trial horse against White Crusader, but the team eventually decided to use the more conventional designed boat. Tank testing was carried out at Southampton University and HMS Haslar. The deadline for acceptance of challenges was 1 April 1986 and Admiral Sir Ian Easton wrote his own personal cheque for $16,000 as an entry fee deposit. Harold Cudmore
Harold Cudmore
Harold Cudmore is an Irish sailor.Born and raised in Cork, Harold Cudmore became an internationally famous yacht racing skipper and match racer....
acted as skipper-tactician and starting helmsman who then handed over the helm to Chris Law
Chris Law
Chris Law was a British sailor.Often described as the most gifted sailor of his generation, Chris Law's talent was sometimes overshadowed by his bad luck and volatile temperament....
for the remainder of each races. Both boats were originally named simply Crusader One and Two but the "White" part of their names were added when millionaire Graham Walker (Of White Horse whiskey fame) gave heavy sponsorship to the British challengers at the last minute before the event started so the "White" was added to their names.
Rounds Robin
The regatta was staged in three rounds robin stages, with points awarded on an increasing scale the later the round in an attempt to award the fastest boats at the end of the series. The top four boats were then placed in an elimination series to select the challenger. The first round robin saw three boats standout, America II of the New York Yacht Club, Stars and Stripes 87 and the surprise of the regatta, KZ 7 allof which finished the first round robin with 11-1 records. The second round saw Stars & Stripes struggle. Conner's boat was optimized for heavy airs, and suffered from a shortage of sails for lighter breezes. When a spell of Easterlies settled over Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
she was caught out of her element and dropped a disappointing four races. She lost to Tom Blackaller and USA in 5 to 10 knot winds, and the following day to the Kiwis, even though the breeze had picked up to 22 knots. On the ninth day she lost again to the British team White Crusader in 4 to 6 knots breeze, and the following day to Canada II, whom she had led around the final mark but was caught out when the breeze died away. The Kiwis continued to dominate the regatta, winning every one of their eleven match races, while America II continued to make a strong showing with a 9-2 record. The third round saw a change in fortunes. America II simply was unable to continue to improve her speed over the course of the regatta, and she struggled to a 6-5 record in the final round. What was a strong performance coming in simply wasn't enough by the third round, and their loss to KZ 7 placed them out of the running for the Semis. The loss meant the New York Yacht Club was eliminated for the first time in Cup history. USA and her unique design appeared to finally be showing her potential, as Tom Blackaller figured out how to sail the boat with the forward canard or rudder. Marc Pajot's French Kiss also found her way into the Semis.
Semifinals
KZ 7 was the top qualifier of the round robins, followed in the points competition by Stars & Stripes 87, USA and French Kiss. In the Challenger semi-finals KZ 7 easily defeated French Kiss 4-0, with none of the races closely contested. Meanwhile, a far more spirited competition between Stars and Stripes 87 and USA ensued, with USA leading all of the first race till the final mark. In the end though Tom Blackaller couldn't quite find the speed he was looking for, and the result was Stars and Stripes 87 winning the semi 4-0.Finals
Going into the Louis Vuitton Finals, Kiwi Magic was the favorite. She was clearly a fast boat in both light and heavy air, had beaten Stars and Stripes 87 twice, and had won an incredible thirty-seven of thirty-eight match races. But Stars & Stripes 87 was showing her best form of the regatta, particularly in heavy winds above 20 knots.The first two races were similar, with Stars & Stipes going out to an early lead in the opening beat to the first windward mark, and then holding that lead throughout the remainder of the rest, holding ground on the downwind legs and extending it on the beats. The third race started out much as the previous two, with both boats taking a long tack out to the left hand side of the course in what Dennis Conner termed a "speed test". Stars & Stripes 87 rounded the first windward mark 26 seconds ahead, and that is when trouble started. The snap shackle failed causing the spinnaker to drop into the sea. The Kiwis closed the gap, gibing back and forth across Conner's stern until they achieved what they were looking for, an inside overlap on the bottom mark. With right of way the Kiwis were able to slide ahead on the turn about the mark. Once there the Kiwis proved a difficult boat to get past. On the second beat to windward they kept the gunsmoke blue boat at bay with a tight cover. No room was available to get by on the reaching legs. But the third beat was one for the records books. Conner threw 55 tacks at the Kiwis and two false tacks in an effort to break free. The New Zealanders covered them all in one of the most exhausting and tense beats to windward in America's Cup history.
The fourth race saw a complete turn in fortune, as now KZ 7 experienced a number of uncommon structural failures which snowballed due to the actions of the skipper and crew, the end result being Kiwi Magic blowing her backstay in an abrupt gibe, losing to Stars & Stripes by 3 minutes 38 seconds.
The fifth race was extremely competitive, with Stars & Stripes taking the initial lead on the first windward leg as she did in the first four races, but on the second beat to windward her Number 6 genoa blew to pieces and the Kiwis closed the gap. All hands went forward to clear the wreckage and hoist the Number 7 genoa, and Stars & Stripes held on to the slimest of leads throughout the next four legs. Rounding the final mark she held a six second lead, but here Dickson made one of the rare mistakes of his summer and struck the mark, forcing KZ 7 to round again and ending all hope they had of winning the race. Stars & Stripes 87 took the series, four wins to one. Perhaps Michael Fay summed up their effort best:
"We did the best we could. We couldn't beat the other guy on the day, and we've got to shake his hand and say 'Well done' because that's what happened. They did a very good job and they beat us."
Added Chris Dickson: "The best boat won. Thirteen years beat thirteen months experience. Congratulations guys."
Following the completion of the race, Gianfranco Alberini, Commodore, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the Challenge Club of Record responsible for organizing the challenger selection process had at last completed his responsibilities.
"We have concluded today two hundred and twenty three races. It was quite an historic performances, and I think it will go down in the Guinness records. Two hundred twenty three races, very successful for sure, selecting the two best yachts for the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup, and the best challenger for the America's Cup 87."