Before They Hosted
A century and a half before AC-72s sailed the Bay, this event had clipper ships rushing to San Francisco
What is the Gold Rush?
This Italian inventor covered the 1899 America’s Cup live for the New York Herald, thanks to his new broadcasting technology
Who is Marconi?
In 1962, their challenger Gretel II’s returned in defeat, but nineteen years later, the mood would be different.
Where is Australia?
Forget this three-letter title when referring to Thomas Lipton, Ben Ainslie, or Peter Blake, and someone might be “royally” annoyed
What is “Sir”?
It provides the power the boat needs to race by catching the wind
What is the sail?
Constructed in the 1760s, Newport is home to the oldest example of this house of worship in the United States— it still hosts services today!
What is a synagogue?
1987 entry Kiwi Magic earned this rhyming nickname for being the first 12-Metre built in fiberglass instead of aluminum
What is “Plastic Fantastic”?
In 1876, with the Countess of Dufferin— and a “sorry” 2-0 result
Where is Canada?
Team New Zealand legends Peter Blake and Brad Butterworth first achieved a flawless victory in the 1989-90 edition of this famous ocean race, which has changed names a few times since
What is the Whitbread?
An underwater appendage that allows the boat to be steered— on an AC-75, it’s “T”-shaped
What is the rudder?
During World War II, Fremantle was the Southern Hemisphere’s largest base for these stealthy British and American warships
What are submarines?
The 1930s J-Class racers Rainbow and Ranger boasted masts of duralumin, an aluminum alloy whose most famous use at the time was in these lighter-than-air vehicles
What are zeppelins?
In the 2011-13 World Series, represented by White Tiger Challenge— and a young Peter Burling
Where is South Korea?
2017 French skipper Franck Cammas had already won this sci-fi sounding award in 2010, after a 48-day trip around the world
What is the Jules Verne Trophy?
Most racing boats store the ballast they need to keep steady in this sometimes-infamous underwater part, but you won’t find one on a smooth-bellied AC-75
What is the keel?
Auckland’s most striking sight in 1021? Not AC-75s, but this giant flightless bird
What is a Moa?
A century before hydrofoils caused a speed revolution in the America’s Cup, their use on motor boats was pioneered by this Canadian inventor— but his work in other fields is more likely to ring a bell
Who is Alexander Graham Bell?
In 2000, with the FAST 2000 team, but they’d find that it was the second time with a more famous team that was the charm
Where is Switzerland?
These famous America’s Cup rivals had both been bronze medalists at the Montréal Olympics seven years earlier
Who are Dennis Conner and John Bertrand?
At high speeds, it’s the only part of the hull in the water, providing a smaller surface area
What is a hydrofoil?
This Islamic-inspired architectural style found in Valencia is a legacy of centuries of rule by the Emirs of Cordoba
What is Moorish?
He went down in the history books as Ben Lexcen, but the designer of Australia II’s famous winged keel was born with this name
Who is Bob Miller?
In 1983, their Azzura syndicate was part of the first Louis Vuitton Cup— but said arrivederci before the finals.
Where is Italy?
He won the 2003 America’s Cup, but his wife had already written the number 1 hit “Black Coffee” about their romance in 2000
Who is Ernesto Bertarelli?
A somewhat-sheltered place for the helmsman to handle the wheel, this nautical term later became more famous in aviation
What is the cockpit?