On This Date in Sports August 22, 1851: Sailing For Glory

A sporting tradition begins on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. British Royal Yacht Squadron, a 53-mile race around the island in the English Channel, sponsored them. The prize is a newly created trophy called the 100 Guineas Cup. The lone entry from the New York Yacht Club, with a boat called America, was the winner. In subsequent years the trophy would be renamed America’s Cup.

As part of the Great Exhibition of 1851, a forebearer of the World’s Fair, the Earl of Winston, invited the recently formed New York Yacht Club for a race around the Isle of Wright. At the time, the Earl of Winston was the commodore of the British Royal Yacht Squadron. John Cox Stephens agreed to the challenge and was granted a special waiver to participate in what was to be a regatta featuring only ships from Great Britain. The prize was a new sterling silver trophy, which came in at a price take of 100 Guineas.

Initially, 18 boats were scheduled to run the race, but it was down 15 yachts once the starting gun was fired at 10 AM near Cowes Castle. The race took the boats on a 53-nautical-mile course surrounding the Isle of Wight in the English Channel. The New York Entry America was a Schooner weighing 170 tons. However, it had trouble getting started with a fouled anchor. Once America got sailing, it was clear the ship was the class of the field. Using a controversial tactic by passing the westward side of the lightship, America gained the race lead. As the race reached its final stage, the New York Yacht Club class was well in front. According to legend, Queen Victoria asked who was in second place, to which someone responded, “There is no second, Your Majesty.” America completed the race in 10 hours and 34 minutes, 24 minutes ahead of Aurora, a 47-ton cutter that placed second.

The cup would become the New York Yacht Club's property and subject to periodic challenge races. Without an official name, the cup would become known as America’s Cup in honor of the Yacht that won the first race. Over the next 132 years, the America’s Cup stayed at the New York Yacht Club, turning away 24 successive challenges, rarely losing a race. The dynasty ended in 1983 when Liberty lost the America’s Cup to Australia II. Four years later, Stars and Stripes returned the America’s Cup to the United States. The cup was won by New Zealand and a boat named Black Magic in 1995. In 2003, it became the property of Switzerland thanks to Alinghi, returning to the USA in 2010. However, the Kiwis recaptured the America’s Cup in 2017 when Team New Zealand defeated Team Oracle 7-1.