america's cup

How two aristocrats, a boatbuilder, a draper and a tech tycoon made a lasting impact on the pinnacle of sailing.

During a press conference, attendees acknowledged that the latest America’s Cup did much to enhance the sport of sailing and brought the event to a broad fan base. Lauding boss Larry Ellison, skipper James Spithill said the success of the event had “silenced the critics,” adding, “There’s no turning back.”

It was, with a nod to Red Sox fans, the sports comeback of all time. Emirates Team New Zealand, the clear leader early in the America’s Cup, was unable to stave off a late charge by Larry Ellison’s Oracle Team USA that suddenly found legs to sweep the final eight races and win the Auld Mug. In each race, the Kiwis were on match point and, for eight races, they lost to a steadily improving Oracle.

The International Jury for the America’s Cup levied multiple penalties on Oracle Team USA for modifications the syndicate made to its AC45 catamarans in 2012. Three members of the American syndicate, headed by software billionaire Larry Ellison, have been excluded from the America’s Cup Finals.

As the chase for the America’s Cup continues in San Francisco Bay, a buildup of bad news could make for an ugly finish to the fabled yacht regatta. On the heels of troubles from a series plagued by soaring boat costs, a scarcity of challengers, a crash that killed a crewmember, intense rules disagreements and one-sided races comes a cheating scandal.

Yacht brokerage and management firm Ocean Independence hosted a glittering event April 25 at the Mall Galleries in London to celebrate the America’s Cup and the Louis Vuitton Cup. The event, dubbed “Legends in London,” brought the two most coveted trophies in sailing together.

A committee established by the organizers of the America’s Cup to review the recent death of a sailor during a training accident took the unusual step last week of recommending teams suspend sailing their catamarans.

The end of April saw the launch of the second AC 72 to bear the Oracle Team USA logo. After a toast and traditional breaking of the Champagne over the hull at the team’s base at Pier 80 in San Francisco, the boat and the Oracle team took to the water.

On Apr. 25, London will play host to two awards that are not often seen in the same location: The America’s Cup and the Louis Vuitton Cup. During an event organized by Ocean Independence and sponsored in part by Yachts International, guests will be able to view the two prestigious cups while enjoying cocktails.

The America’s Cup events in San Francisco will be a spectator sport and a musical event. One of the headliners will be multi-Grammy award-winning recording artist Sting.

The Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, cable cars, Lombard Street, Alcatraz—San Francisco is unquestionably one of the world’s most iconic cities. Soon San Francisco will also be able to add the 34th America’s Cup finals to its pedigree.

It’s been almost 30 years since an America’s Cup race has taken place in Narragansett Bay, but for four days—June 28th to July lst, 2012—the community rolled out the red carpet and welcomed home its beloved Cup. In this internationally recognized sailing community, Newport will always be home for the America’s Cup.