History
The historical context
For one hundred and thirteen years, the English, Canadians and Australians
had all tried in vain to win the Cup, which was inscribed with the name
of that mythical boat, the black ship that had claimed the Cup from the
English in 1851 under the watchful eyes of Queen Victoria.
It was a moment of history that definitely moved Marcel Bich. The young
American nation in a vessel called "America" emerged victorious
over the old and arrogant "Britannia," queen of the seas.
The time had come to challenge the American superpower with a boat christened
the "France."
In the summer of 1964, as he leafs through a sailing magazine, Baron
Bich has no idea that he is about to devote the next 15 years to this
new and great challenge. He is unaware that he will make four attempts
between 1970 and 1980. And perhaps, most importantly, he has little idea
that he will go on to change the face of the America's Cup and that,
even in the eyes of the prestigious New York Yacht Club Commodores, he
will be a driving force that contributed to the defeat of the Americans
in 1983. The first in 132 years...
Baron Bich had tremendous energy and knew how to run a company. For him,
taking on the America's Cup was like starting up a whole new business.
In a matter of months, he created the A.F.C.A (l'Association Française
pour la Coupe de l'Amérique) and was in touch with the New
York Yacht Club to prepare his challenge.
The America's Cup draws on a long and unusual past, unlike any other
sporting event. Itís a duel on water, whose rules were set in 1887 in
the "Deed of Gift," written by the last owner of "America".
It stipulates that he who desires to challenge the Cup must entrust a
Yacht Club to make a claim on their behalf to the New York Yacht Club.
The latter will then arrange a date when the two sailing boats representing
the two clubs will compete. In the beginning, the race took place in New
York, but it was moved to Newport in 1930.
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