Admiral's Cup
Encyclopedia
The Admiral's Cup is an international yachting regatta. For many years it was known as the unofficial world championship of offshore racing.
The Admiral's Cup regatta was started in 1957 and was normally a biennial event (occurring in odd-numbered years) which was competed for between national teams. However the event was not staged in 2001 and was last held in 2003. It was cancelled at short notice in 2005.
The 2003 event did not follow the normal format and allowed entries from any yacht club affiliated to a national authority, thus allowing the possibility of several teams per country.
The regatta was based at Cowes
on the Isle of Wight
off southern England
and was organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club
.
and the United States
took part but, in later years, many other teams also participated. The Fastnet race
was part of the Admiral's Cup during this time.
In 1971 the British Prime Minister, Edward Heath
, captained one of the winning boats.
in Ireland, but this was changed at the short notice for reasons that are still unclear. In addition, instead of being a competition between national teams, the event was competed between yacht club
s, each with two boats.
The 2005 event was cancelled in April of that year, only months before the event was to be held.
As of April 2008 there was no planned date or format for a next event and the Admiral's Cup's future is uncertain. However the RORC is looking into reviving the event for 2011.
The Admiral's Cup regatta was started in 1957 and was normally a biennial event (occurring in odd-numbered years) which was competed for between national teams. However the event was not staged in 2001 and was last held in 2003. It was cancelled at short notice in 2005.
The 2003 event did not follow the normal format and allowed entries from any yacht club affiliated to a national authority, thus allowing the possibility of several teams per country.
The regatta was based at Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
off southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and was organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club
Royal Ocean Racing Club
The Royal Ocean Racing Club also called RORC was established in 1925 as a result of a race to the Fastnet rock from Cowes and finishing in Plymouth. The RORC is the principal organiser of offshore yacht races in the UK, including the Fastnet race, the Admirals Cup and the Commodore's Cup...
.
History: 1957 - 1999
From 1957 to 1999 the cup was competed for between national teams, each having three boats. Initially only Great BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
took part but, in later years, many other teams also participated. The Fastnet race
Fastnet race
The Fastnet Race is a famous offshore yachting race. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. It takes place every two years over a course of . The race starts off Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England, rounds the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland and then finishes at...
was part of the Admiral's Cup during this time.
In 1971 the British Prime Minister, Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
, captained one of the winning boats.
Recent history
The 2003 event, the last held, was planned to be based in Dún LaoghaireDún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
in Ireland, but this was changed at the short notice for reasons that are still unclear. In addition, instead of being a competition between national teams, the event was competed between yacht club
Yacht club
A yacht club is a sports club specifically related to sailing and yachting.-Description:Yacht Clubs are mostly located by the sea, although there are some that have been established at a lake or riverside locations...
s, each with two boats.
The 2005 event was cancelled in April of that year, only months before the event was to be held.
As of April 2008 there was no planned date or format for a next event and the Admiral's Cup's future is uncertain. However the RORC is looking into reviving the event for 2011.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Top Placed Boat |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | ||
| 1959 | ||
| 1961 | ||
| 1963 | ||
| 1965 | ||
| 1967 | ||
| 1969 | ||
| 1971 | ||
| 1973 | ||
| 1975 | ||
| 1977 | ||
| 1979 | ||
| 1981 | ||
| 1983 | ||
| 1985 | ||
| 1987 | ||
| 1989 | Jamarella | |
| 1991 | ||
| 1993 | ||
| 1995 | ||
| 1997 | ||
| 1999 | ||
| 2003 |
External links
- The Admiral's Cup (on the RORC site)