1987 Fremantle, Australia
Backed by merchant bankers Sir Michael Fay and David Richwhite and racing on the yacht dubbed the "Plastic Fantastic" KZ7, New Zealand made its cup debut. The yacht was the world’s first fibre-glass 12-metre yacht and it was helmed by a young Chris Dickson and equally youthful crew. New Zealand remarkably won through to the final of the Louis Vuitton Challenger series winning 37 out of 38 matches. The Kiwi charge was halted by Dennis Conner, who went on to regain the Cup he had lost four years earlier to Alan Bond’s Australian Syndicate.
1988 San Diego, USA
Frustrated by lack of a decision on where and when the cup would be defended, Sir Michael Fay issued an early and unusual challenge to the San Diego Yacht Club. The New Zealand Challenge, on studying the Deed of Gift, discovered they could abandon the established 12-metre class and return to the 90ft waterline measurement stipulated in the original deed. New Zealand built a towering carbon-fibre monohull with wings extending from the deck like an aircraft carrier. The defender, Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes, sailed a catamaran. Predictably, the cat won on the water and a drawn out court battle followed. Ultimately New Zealand lost but once again reshaped the event. The 12-metre never sailed in the cup again and the current America’s Cup Class (ACC) yachts were born.
1992 San Diego, USA
New Zealand was by now a force to be reckoned with in Cup racing. As usual New Zealand departed from the norm sailing a short, wide and light Bruce Farr design sporting an unusual double strut keel and no rudder. Skippered by Rod Davis, the Kiwis rocketed through to the Louis Vuitton Challenger finals. But, controversy erupted again when their Italian II Moro di Venezia rivals mounted a campaign against NZL-20’s bowsprit. Leading the series 4-1, the tactic successfully sank the New Zealand campaign. The Italians came from behind to win 5-4, taking the right to challenge for the America’s Cup. A devastated New Zealand team once again left empty handed.
1995 San Diego, USA
Round-the-world racer Sir Peter Blake stepped up to lead the New Zealand campaign for the 1995 Cup regatta. Concentrating on producing a superbly designed and meticulously detailed yacht, Team New Zealand built a text-book case study in how to win sport’s oldest and most elusive trophy. Helmed by Russell Coutts, the Black Magics NZL32 and NZL38, rocketed to ultimate glory. Team New Zealand won the Louis Vuitton series convincingly and continued on to America’s Cup victory destroying archrival Team Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes 5-0.
2000 Auckland
In 149 years, Australia and then New Zealand were the only countries to capture the Cup away from America. New Zealand was determined to be the first country to successfully defend the Auld Mug. A powerful line up of 11 syndicates from seven nations turned out to do battle in Auckland. With Sir Peter Bake running the campaign, Tom Schnackenberg in charge of design and Russell Coutts leading the sailing team, New Zealand prepared its defence.
A tough Louis Vuitton series saw the Italian Prada team win through to challenge for the Cup. But in a repeat of the 1995 result, Team New Zealand’s black machine, NZL-60, nullified the Italian challenge 5-0. This took New Zealand’s America’s Cup record to an unmatched 10-0.
2003 Auckland Sir Peter Blake and key members of his management team stepped aside, leaving the way clear for Tom Schnackenberg, Russell Coutts and tactician Brad Butterworth to establish the framework for a new look syndicate. However within weeks Coutts and Butterworth left to take up positions with the Swiss-based Alinghi syndicate. Under new CEO Ross Blackman, Tom Schnackenberg and Dean Barker Team New Zealand set about their defence. Alinghi won through to contest the cup. Team New Zealand could not match Alinghi’s challenge spearheaded by former team mates Coutts and Butterworth. Alinghi took the Cup and the series 5-0 and returned the cup to Europe for the first time since 1851. |
