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The schooner "America" won what would become known as the "America's Cup" race on this day in history, Aug. 22, 1851.
Known at the time as the "Hundred Guinea Cup," referencing the value of the trophy, the race was sponsored by the Royal Yacht Squadron of Great Britain. It consisted of a race around the Isle of Wight.
"America," a 100-foot schooner built by George Steers and William H. Brown — and entered by the New York Yacht Club — won the event, said Encyclopedia Britannica. The trophy was renamed "America's Cup" in its honor.
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The trophy then became a "challenge trophy" and is now open to "sailing clubs of all nations," said the website of INEOS Britannia, a British sailing team.
While countries are free to enter ships, "each competing vessel must be designed, built, and, insofar as possible, outfitted solely in the country that it represents," said Encyclopedia Britannica.
A James Bard painting of the America schooner yacht, which won the first America's Cup race on this day in history, August 22, 1851. (Wikimedia Commons)
The second awarding of the America's Cup did not occur until 1870.
That race, too, was won by the New York Yacht Club.
The New York Yacht Club also won the next several races.
"American teams representing the New York Yacht Club successfully defended the Cup against all challenges for 132 years – the longest winning streak in sport – until an Australian team won in 1983," said INEOS Britannia.
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The Australian victory in 1983 changed the race into a "truly global phenomena," said INEOS Britannia.
The winner selects the location for the following America's Cup.
Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling holds the America's Cup trophy aloft after defeating Italy's Luna Rossa in race 10 of the America's Cup on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, March 17, 2021. Team New Zealand will be the defender in the upcoming 37th America's Cup. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)
It has been held "in locations spread around the world – Cowes, New York, Newport RI, Fremantle, San Diego, Auckland, Valencia and San Francisco," said INEOS Britannia.
Even though the U.K. originated the race, a team from the United Kingdom has yet to win.
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The modern iteration of the America's Cup is a far cry from the race around the Isle of Wight in 1851.
Now, instead of all entries racing at once – a "fleet race," as it was in 1851 – the America's Cup is decided in a series of matches.
Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, stand by the America's Cup trophy at the close of the British leg of the America's Cup World Series on July 26, 2015, in Portsmouth, England. A team from the United Kingdom has never won the America's Cup. (Luke MacGregor - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
These matches are held in the year leading up to the final, which features the defending champion of the previous America's Cup against the winner of the elimination matches earlier that year, said Britannica.
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The 37th America's Cup will be held from Oct. 12 through Oct. 20, 2024, in Barcelona, according to the website for the event.
Preliminary matches start in September 2023.
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Emirates Team New Zealand is the defending champion.
Challengers for the event include Switzerland's Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Italy's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, United States of America's New York Yacht Club American Magic, the United Kingdom's INEOS Britannia and France's Orient Express Team.
