The Citizen Cup is a trophy which was awarded to the winner of a regatta held in 1992 and again in 1995 to decide on a defender 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...

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History

The formal 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...

 races are always between two yachts from different countries. This means that any syndicate from the country of the defending yacht club would not be participating in the challenger series. The yacht club defending 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...

 staged a series of races to select the yacht to defend and race against the challenger for the America's Cup. For many years a defender series had been a part of the defender selection process and in 1992 Citizen Watch offered the Citizen Cup to be awarded to the winner of the defender selection series

1992 Citizen Cup

The 1992 Citizen Cup was the defender selection series regatta for the 1992 America's Cup, held in the United States. Two defense syndicates competed over four round robins in order earn a berth in the Citizen Cup finals; the winner earned the right to defend the America's Cup against the winner...

. In parallel the challengers competed for the 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...

 and the winner went on to challenge for the America's Cup.

The 1995 Citizen Cup

1995 Citizen Cup

The 1995 Citizen Cup was the defender selection series regatta for the 1995 America's Cup, held in the United States. Three defense syndicates competed over four round robins and a semi-finals series in order earn a berth in the Citizen Cup finals; the winner earned the right to defend the...

 regatta was won by 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...

, however, the defending San Diego Yacht Club opted to race the second-place boat Young America

Young America

-Geography:United States*Young America, Indiana*Young America, Wisconsin*Norwood Young America, Minnesota*Young America Township, Carver County, Minnesota*Young America Township, Edgar County, Illinois*Young America Lake, a lake in Minnesota- Films :...

, sailed by the winning Stars & Stripes crew, in the succeeding America's Cup races as it was thought that this would give them the best chance of beating Black Magic

NZL 32

NZL-32 or Black Magic, is an International Americas Cup Class yacht that won the 1995 America's Cup. She beat the American defender Young America in a 5-0 victory off San Diego, California.-History:...

 of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

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Today

The Citizen Cup was discontinued after the 1995 regatta. Beginning with the 2000 America's Cup the defending yacht club has opted not to hold a defense selection regatta because the countries that have won the America's Cup, New Zealand and Switzerland, have not had the resources to field multiple teams.

Its is unclear yet if the 2010 America's Cup winner, the Golden Gate Yacht Club

Golden Gate Yacht Club

The Golden Gate Yacht Club is a yacht club founded in 1939 and is the current holder of the America's Cup won by its racing team BMW Oracle Racing.In 1939 the first members built a clubhouse on a barge in the San Francisco Marina...

 in San Francisco, will hold a defender's cup, or simply retain the winning BMW Oracle Racing

BMW Oracle Racing

Oracle Racing is an American sailboat racing syndicate initially formed to compete for the 2003 America’s Cup. They competed again in the 2007 event before winning the 33rd America's Cup regatta in 2010 - representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club....

 team.

Citizen Cup winners

Regatta	Sail	Yacht	Club	Venue
1995 Citizen Cup 1995 Citizen Cup The 1995 Citizen Cup was the defender selection series regatta for the 1995 America's Cup, held in the United States. Three defense syndicates competed over four round robins and a semi-finals series in order earn a berth in the Citizen Cup finals; the winner earned the right to defend the...	USA-34	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...	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 :...	San Diego San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
1992 Citizen Cup 1992 Citizen Cup The 1992 Citizen Cup was the defender selection series regatta for the 1992 America's Cup, held in the United States. Two defense syndicates competed over four round robins in order earn a berth in the Citizen Cup finals; the winner earned the right to defend the America's Cup against the winner...	USA-23	America³ America³ America is the name of both a racing yacht and syndicate that vied for the America's Cup in 1992 and 1995.-1992 Cup victory:The program was operated by Bill Koch and Harry "Buddy" Melges in the 1992 America's Cup...	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 :...	San Diego San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

External links

• America's Cup Official Website for the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia
• CupInfo.com America's Cup News and Information for 2007