The
Louis Vuitton Cup is one of the most famous and prestigious competitions in the sport of
yachtingYachting refers to recreational sailing or boating, the specific act of sailing or using other vessels for sporting.-Competitive Sailing:...
because of its relationship to the
America's CupThe America’s Cup is the most prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing, and the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years. The sport attracts top sailors and yacht designers because of its long history and prestige...
. The
Louis VuittonLouis Vuitton Malletier, commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton, or shortened to LV, is an international French fashion house specializing in trunks, leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes, watches, jewelry, accessories, sunglasses, and books. Known the world over for its iconic LV monogram and logo,...
Cup was used as the selection series to select the team to sail as the challenger in the
America's CupThe America’s Cup is the most prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing, and the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years. The sport attracts top sailors and yacht designers because of its long history and prestige...
. Since the inception of the Louis Vuitton Cup four out of the six winners have subsequently won the America's Cup itself.
In July 2007, Louis Vuitton announced termination of all its sponsorship activities associated with the
America's CupThe America’s Cup is the most prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing, and the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years. The sport attracts top sailors and yacht designers because of its long history and prestige...
after 25 years of involvement, arguing the organisation of the America's Cup was taken over by business under the rule of Mr Bertarelli, leader of Alinghi, winner in 2003.
In 1970, for the first time in
America's CupThe America’s Cup is the most prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing, and the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years. The sport attracts top sailors and yacht designers because of its long history and prestige...
history, multiple
international challengers competed for the right to challenge the New York Yacht Club, the defender of the America's Cup (the key word being "international": in 1964, for example, two British challengers competed for the right to challenge the NYYC.)
For the 1983 America’s Cup match,
Louis VuittonLouis Vuitton Malletier, commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton, or shortened to LV, is an international French fashion house specializing in trunks, leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes, watches, jewelry, accessories, sunglasses, and books. Known the world over for its iconic LV monogram and logo,...
offered a trophy to the winner of the challenger selection series; the idea generally credited to Bruno Trouble, a French yachtsman.
The
Louis Vuitton Cup is one of the most famous and prestigious competitions in the sport of
yachtingYachting refers to recreational sailing or boating, the specific act of sailing or using other vessels for sporting.-Competitive Sailing:...
because of its relationship to the
America's CupThe America’s Cup is the most prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing, and the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years. The sport attracts top sailors and yacht designers because of its long history and prestige...
. The
Louis VuittonLouis Vuitton Malletier, commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton, or shortened to LV, is an international French fashion house specializing in trunks, leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes, watches, jewelry, accessories, sunglasses, and books. Known the world over for its iconic LV monogram and logo,...
Cup was used as the selection series to select the team to sail as the challenger in the
America's CupThe America’s Cup is the most prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing, and the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years. The sport attracts top sailors and yacht designers because of its long history and prestige...
. Since the inception of the Louis Vuitton Cup four out of the six winners have subsequently won the America's Cup itself.
In July 2007, Louis Vuitton announced termination of all its sponsorship activities associated with the
America's CupThe America’s Cup is the most prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing, and the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years. The sport attracts top sailors and yacht designers because of its long history and prestige...
after 25 years of involvement, arguing the organisation of the America's Cup was taken over by business under the rule of Mr Bertarelli, leader of Alinghi, winner in 2003.
History
In 1970, for the first time in
America's CupThe America’s Cup is the most prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing, and the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the Modern Olympics by 45 years. The sport attracts top sailors and yacht designers because of its long history and prestige...
history, multiple
international challengers competed for the right to challenge the New York Yacht Club, the defender of the America's Cup (the key word being "international": in 1964, for example, two British challengers competed for the right to challenge the NYYC.)
For the 1983 America’s Cup match,
Louis VuittonLouis Vuitton Malletier, commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton, or shortened to LV, is an international French fashion house specializing in trunks, leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes, watches, jewelry, accessories, sunglasses, and books. Known the world over for its iconic LV monogram and logo,...
offered a trophy to the winner of the challenger selection series; the idea generally credited to Bruno Trouble, a French yachtsman. The initial Louis Vuitton Cup was contested off Newport, United States, with
Australia IIThe Australia II is a 12-metre class yacht, and the first successful challenger for the America's Cup after 132 years.-Design:Designed by Ben Lexcen, built by Steve Ward, owned by Alan Bond and helmed by John Bertrand...
prevailing, thereby earning the right to meet the NYYC’s defending yacht
Liberty in that year’s America’s Cup.
With the exception of
1988The 1988 America's Cup was a contest of two between the defender, the San Diego Yacht Club represented by Stars & Stripes, and the challenger, the Mercury Bay Boating Club represented by KZ-1.-Surprise Challenge:...
(a rogue challenge by
New Zealand) the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup has been awarded the right to challenge the current defender for the America's Cup. During the 1992 and 1995 regattas Citizen Watch offered a trophy to the winner of the defender selection series (the
Citizen CupThe Citizen Cup is a trophy which was awarded to the winner of a regatta held in 1992 and again in 1995 to decide on a defender of the America's Cup.-History:...
) as the defense’s counterpart to the Louis Vuitton cup.
Post 2004
Due to the large number of challengers in recent decades the Louis Vuitton Cup has had to eliminate challengers in two phases. A round-robin points accruing phase, and then a pair of semi-finals involving the top four, followed by a final between the top two. The semi-finals and finals are a best of nine races between two boats.
Since 2004 the Louis Vuitton Cup hosts 13 "Acts" of competition, with the first 3 acts not awarding points toward rankings. Some challengers do not enter the competition by the start of the acts. Rules for the current races (2005–2007) stipulate that ranking points awarded for each act of competition will increase as they get closer to the final. For acts taking place in 2005, standard points were awarded, with 11 ranking points for a first place finish, and points awarded decreasing based on placing. Acts in 2006 double the points, with 22 ranking points for first place, and the final act 13 which takes place in 2007 will award triple points, giving 33 points to the winner.
History shows that the Louis Vuitton Cup series enhances the chances of the challenger due to the intense racing against different opponents which improves the tactics and crew co-ordination of the winner. Differences in boat speed are becoming less and less placing an even greater premium on reliability, superior tactics and crewing. In the weeks leading up to the America's Cup competition, the defender has to mainly practice using in-house racing which can never be as intense as real competition.
Louis Vuitton Cup winners
| Regatta | Sail | Yacht | Club | Venue |
|---|
| 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup |
NZL-92 |
Emirates Team New Zealand |
NZL Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is one of New Zealand's more prestigious yacht clubs, and the club behind New Zealand's America's Cup campaigns, under the guise of Team New Zealand....
|
Valencia, SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. [The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
|
| 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup |
SUI-64 |
AlinghiAlinghi is a coined name of the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli to challenge for the America's Cup. Bertarelli had raced several smaller yachts named Alinghi previously, but 2003 was his first attempt at the America's Cup...
|
SUI Société Nautique de Genève The Société Nautique de Genève is a yacht club based in Geneva . It was founded in 1872 with the goal of developing nautical sports and high level sailors...
|
Auckland, New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
|
| 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup |
ITA-45 |
Luna RossaLuna Rossa Challenge is an Italian sailboat racing syndicate, created to compete for the America's Cup in 2000.Sponsored by Prada, and beginning from 2005 also by Telecom Italia....
|
ITA Yacht Club Punta Ala |
Auckland, New Zealand |
| 1995 Louis Vuitton Cup |
NZL-32 |
Team New ZealandYachting Team New Zealand is an America's Cup sailing team which is based in Auckland. The team officially represents the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and they have become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
|
NZL Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is one of New Zealand's more prestigious yacht clubs, and the club behind New Zealand's America's Cup campaigns, under the guise of Team New Zealand....
|
San DiegoSan Diego , named after Saint Didacus , is the second-largest city in California and the ninth largest city in the United States, located along the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of the United States. The US Census Bureau estimates the city's population at 1,279,329 as of 2008...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
| 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup |
ITA-16 |
Il Moro di Venezia V |
ITA Compagnia della Vela di Venezia |
San Diego, United States |
| 1988 |
| Only one challenger therefore uncontested |
| 1987 Louis Vuitton Cup |
US-55 |
Stars and Stripes '87Stars & Stripes is the name of a series of racing yachts operated by Dennis Conner to compete in the America's Cup. The name "Stars & Stripes" refers to the nickname often used for the flag of the United States.- 12-metre class yachts :1987 America's Cup...
|
USA San Diego Yacht ClubSan Diego Yacht Club is a yacht club located in San Diego Bay. Its address is 1011 Anchorage Lane, San Diego, CA 92106. It is located in Point Loma across from a spit of land known as Shelter Island.- Facilities :...
|
FremantleFremantle is a port city in Western Australia, located southwest of Perth, the state capital, at the mouth of the Swan River on Australia's western coast. It was the first settlement of the Swan River colonists in 1829...
, AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
|
| 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup |
KA-6 |
Australia IIThe Australia II is a 12-metre class yacht, and the first successful challenger for the America's Cup after 132 years.-Design:Designed by Ben Lexcen, built by Steve Ward, owned by Alan Bond and helmed by John Bertrand...
|
AUS Royal Perth Yacht ClubThe Royal Perth Yacht Club is a yacht club in Perth, Western Australia. This club staged the unsuccessful 1987 America's Cup defence at Fremantle following the 1983 victory at Newport, USA, of Australia II—ending the New York Yacht Club's 132-year domination of the event. The entrance road...
|
NewportNewport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about 30 miles south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States...
, United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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External links
- America's Cup Official Website for the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia
- CupInfo.com America's Cup News and Information for 2007