America's Cup

An international sailing competition in which yacht clubs challenge the current holder for a trophy first awarded in 1851. Its match-racing format and advanced boats make it one of sailing’s most prominent events.

Match racing: A sailing race format in which two boats compete directly, often using tactics to impede an opponent. The Cup’s decisive races pit one challenger against the defender boat for boat.
1851 America's Cup: The race around the Isle of Wight in 1851 won by the schooner America. This race began the trophy's history and supplied its name.
Sir Thomas Lipton: A British tea magnate who financed five unsuccessful challenges for the America's Cup between 1899 and 1930. His repeated challenges made him one of the competition's most enduring public figures.
International America's Cup Class: A yacht class used in the America's Cup from 1992 through 2007. Its adoption replaced the 12-Metre rule and reshaped the boats of that era.
Fleet racing: A sailing format in which multiple boats race on the course at the same time. Unlike a Cup match, fleet racing ranks many boats in a shared race.
America's Cup World Series: A series of preliminary regattas associated with an America's Cup cycle. These events can test teams and provide a public stage before the match.
Schooner America: The American racing schooner that won the 1851 race later associated with the America's Cup. Its victory led to the trophy being donated to the New York Yacht Club.
Dennis Conner: An American sailor who won the America's Cup as a skipper and helped return it to the United States in 1987. His 1983 defeat and 1987 comeback became defining episodes in modern Cup history.
12-Metre class: A measurement rule for racing yachts used in the America's Cup from 1958 to 1987. It standardized Cup boats for decades and supported repeated, closely matched campaigns.
SailGP: An international sailing league in which national teams race identical high-performance foiling catamarans. Its standardized boats and circuit format differ from the Cup's design competition and club challenge.

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