America’s Cup challenge

Press, 20 January 1979, Page 12

America’s Cup challenge

The most famous of all yachting trophies, the America’s Cup, still lures British yachtsmen. Originally worth £lOO when presented by the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1851, millions of dollars have since been spent by syndicates in several nations who have tried to wrest the prize from the United States. The America’s Cup was at stake for the first time when the schooner America beat home 15 British yachts in a race around the Isle of Wight. The owners of America presented it to the New York Yacht Club in 1857. This 12m yacht (pictured above) under construction in a British shipyard will

play a part in an attempt to win the 1980 America’s Cup contest. The challenge will be made by the Royal Southern Yacht Club of Southampton and will involve the building of two yachts, the second being a development of the first. They will be used for evaluation, match racing experience and crew training under the watchful eye of John Oakeley, a British Olympic yachtsman and the skipper chosen to lead the challenge. To provide the new design with a basis of comparison against present 12m performance, a competitive American yacht will also be purchased. The final vessel will measure something in the

order of 19m long and weigh 30.4 tonnes. It will include the latest marine technology from Britain. The skills of experts in metallurgy and structural techniques working to fine tolerance and yacht equipment from deckware to electronics will be combined in the new boat. A new yarn will be used for the sailcloth and the best in sail design and construction are to be brought together for the challenge. A club “British Industry 1500” has been formed to combine the expertise and financial support of 1500 companies who are prepared to help win this most coveted trophy.