HISTORY OF THE AMERICA GLASS

The America Glass is the first sport competition of history. It was disputed for the first time in 1.851 and one has come disputing with regularity until today. The competition most prestigious of the world of navigation is considered. 

In 1.851 the Exhibition was celebrated the International in England with the idea to present/display to the world the advances realized in investigation and technology and in this way to show the supremacy of the British Empire. Between its acts one would be realized regata around the Island of Wight, to the south of England. As it details on the part of the English government were decided to invite a foreign participant, the chosen one was the “America” of the Club of Candle of New York.

The exit was slow, but “America” advanced to its fifteen opponents occupying the first position and gaining regata of a clear and full form. One tells that queen Victoria during regata asked “Who goes first? ”, “America” responded to him, “And secondly” it continued asking. To which they responded to him “! There is no second Majesty”

From this form the call arises Glass America, a friendly competition between nations. Its name gives honor to the winning boat. At the outset disputed between the representatives of England and the United States. It was not up to 1,876 that enters the competition another country, Canada. 

In 1.895 and before the disqualification of its equipment, the English equipment decides to stop participating in this regata. It will not be until almost 40 years later that return to compete the America Glass.

In 1.899 a new type of keel, deep and oriented is introduced towards the center of the boat, that will remain without changes up to 1.983.

Due to World War I there were years in which the competition was not realized. Retaking itself again in 1.920. In this occasion the challenging equipment of Shamrock IV was on the verge of snatching the Glass to him to the American equipment. The victory of the American equipment had to that to Shamrock IV an addition of time of penalty due to its two meters more of length was applied to him on the Resolute. This norm of “compensation” between time and length gave the victory again to the American equipment.

During years 30 Class J was applied: boats that could have 42 meters of length and took several candles towards prow, although already a single candle was used towards stern. Later Genoa would only be used in prow.

With World War II one becomes to suspend the America Glass up to 1.958. The difficulties at the time of constructing a boat of these lengths that crossed the Atlantic to participate in the competition during the War took to the decision to allow to the participation of the call Class 12-M, created in 1.907, whose length went up to around the 20/21 meters and they only had a prow candle and to spinaker. Also it was allowed that the sailboats, instead of to cross the Atlantic, could arrive at the other side of the ocean on board a transport ship.

Thanks to this new possibility of acceding to the port of the competition without realizing the sailed one, in 1.962 an Australian equipment participates for the first time.

In 1.974 they appear the boats of aluminum that replace those of wood which they participated until this moment.

From 1,851 to 1,983 the Americans maintained the victory in their hand. But in 1.983, Australia is able to snatch the triumph to them. Which was taken like a national defeat on the part of the customary Americans for more than itself to being invincible in this competition. The new Defender, “Australia II” revolutionizes the design of the keels with a keel finished in wings. “Australia II” had overcome to the British equipment the Louis Vuitton Glass, having happened to face the “Liberty” of Conner. In fourth regata, Conner defended the Glass with a “3-1” giving by seated the new victory on the part of the Americans, but before the surprise of all, Bertrand is able to give a turn to the competition and to win finally to the glass by “3-4”. After 132 years, the glass lets the territory American to travel to other latitudes.

The edition of 1,986 was one of the most hoped and interesting, the unfolding of the American equipment to manage to bring the Glass to house was spectacular again. Thirteen equipment of six nations aspired to being the Challenging one. New Zealand participates for the first time in the competition with a fiber glass boat and composites and is able to arrive at the end of Louis Vuitton losing against Dennis Conner. Which reclaims the Glass with a clear victory of “0-4” and full one. It was so the joy of the Americans who Coppola ends up producing a film exceeds it: “the wind force”.

The discrepancies, collisions, penalty… during the competitions arrive to the maximum. The New Zealand Michael Fay interpreting literally the “Deed of Gift” threatens going to the courts if Conner does not accept its Desafío in 1.988 instead of 1.989. The discussions become something personal between both. To that edition, Conner goes with a catamaran of 18 meters of length and Fay with a sailboat of almost 40 meters. When not securing an agreement it enters equipment both, is decided to apply the norm of regatas that the “Deed of Gift” establishes with three encounter in triangle. The American prevails in two of them with times of 18 and 21 minutes on Fay, which decides to go to the courts alleging that the participation of the catamaran was “dirty game”. During a time the Glass was granted to him to New Zealand, but the resource of the Club of San Diego confirms the result of regatas giving back the Glass to the Club.

Before the risk of which the America Glass disappears due to all this fight, it is decided for the edition of 1,991 a unique type of boat to compete, a sailboat of 24 meters of length and keels with bulbs of almost 20 tons. It is call IACC “International America´s Cup Class”. In this way the disparity of lengths between the opponents is avoided harnessing the creativity and the effort in the design to remove to the maximum party and yield to these sailboats. Also one settles down that no equipment can use more than two boats in a campaign for the America Glass.

Regatas takes the present norm from three routes windward-leeward to complete the 18/20 miles of route. In addition a system of referees in the own field of regatas for the complaints at the moment is introduced obtaining for doing sport and balanced the competition.

It was not up to 1,991 that Spain begins to participate in this test obtaining that year a fifth place. In the 1.995 United States, again Dennis Conner, loses the Glass for the second time, gain the victory in this case the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Four years later and for the first time for a nonAmerican equipment, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is able to maintain the victory and the Glass in its power. It is also the first championship in which the Americans are not able to dispute the end.

In 1.997 the Glass, done by hand in 1.848 and valued at the time in 100 pounds underwent flaws that forced to repair it. The Garrard´s jewelry shop of London offered, “by sentimental reasons” its repair free.

The edition of 2,003 emphasized by the difficulties caused by the wind; or too strong or calm chicha, the participation of the local referees did not help either much. It emphasized the one that was not developed regatas local to settle down like Defender and the nonrepresentation of an Australian equipment. The newness of the repescas of Louis Vuitton was introduced, which gave a greater balance to the competition. By second year, the Americans are not able to arrive at the Defense from the Glass, being occupied this place the Swiss equipment of Bertarelli with Coutts (champion in year 2,000 in New Zealand). Finally in 2.003 Switzerland is able to bring the Glass to the European continent, with a clear victory “0-5”.

 It is the first time, from his origin in 1.851, that the America Glass takes place in Europe. For more than a century it has been in hands American and Australian and later New Zealand. Concretely the United States has been the winner of the America Glass in 28 occasions, New Zealand in two occasions and Australia, and now Switzerland, in an occasion. Spain has participated in three occasions in editions of 1,991, 1,995 and 1.999.

Louis Vuitton Act 12 of 2,006 had two particularitities that made it different from all the others. First it was the format, the equipment were going to dispute to a Round Robin del that they would leave three Divisions four equipment. Each Division would dispute a series of semifinals, a end and a end of consolation that would give like result the final classification. The second distinguishing characteristic still more important era by its symbolic character. For 10 of the 11 Challengers, Louis Vuitton Act 12 was going to suppose its last expensive confrontation to face with Defender Alinghi. Only one will have the opportunity to return to be with Swiss, will be the winner of Louis Vuitton Cup. If there were a detail that marked the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 12 it was the aggressiveness of the contenders. There was so much, that in the end it happened the inevitable thing. In last regata of the end of consolation of Division One, BMW ORACLE Racing approached to Rossa Moon and both boats were seriously damaged. Finally, the Jury (Sworn) determined that Rossa Moon was the person in charge of the incident and the Italian Challenger will have to pay for 80% of the repair of the 87 USA American. It was necessary to hope until last regata to meet a winner, not only of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act, but also of the 2006 Louis Vuitton ACC Championship. Both suction they were Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand, and in the end the victory was for the New Zealand ones.

CURIOSITIES 

General Paine became 1.887 in first captain that gains three victories

In 1,887 the Scottish schooner “Thistle” arrives at the New York port with the covered helmet to avoid that the Americans did not know until the last minute their new and revolutionary design

In 1.887 the regulation settles down bases of regata: equipment of countries different from the winner in the last edition (called Defending), fights to snatch the Glass to him

W. Granfield was the first participant who during two years followed became position of the cane of his boat.

The Royal Thames Yacht Club of Great Britain realized 16 attempts to take control of the Glass.

For the first time, in 1.974, two equipment of a same country competes for being Challenging.

In 1.995 the One Australia sinks less than in two minutes during regatas

A typical major has more than 220 m2 and spi used in the sections of stern m2 has more than 500