Defenders & Challengers
1851 - 2017
The America’s Cup is oldest trophy in international sport and dates back to 1851 when the yacht America sailed across the Atlantic to take on the best of the British fleet.
The trophy won that day was donated through a Deed of Gift to the New York Yacht Club, to be held as a challenge trophy for friendly competition between nations.
Since then the trophy has only been raced for 35 times in the 167 years. To this day the famous quote mentioned to Queen Victoria all those years ago continue to ring true: “There is no Second”
Winners long remembered, the losers often forgotten in time, here is a list of those who have succeeded and those who have failed.
The 36th America’s Cup will see Emirates Team New Zealand attempt to defend the ‘Auld Mug’ against a fleet of exceptionally strong and well resourced challengers in a new AC75 class in Auckland in 2021
| Year | Defender | Country | Challenger | Country | Won By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | 15 yachts | England | America | USA | America |
| 1870 | Magic | USA | Cambria | England | Magic |
| 1871 | Columbia / Sappho | USA | Livonia | England |
Columbia / Sappho
|
| 1876 | Madeleine | USA | Countess of Dufferin | Canada | Madeleine |
| 1881 | Mischief | USA | Atalanta | Canada | Mischief |
| 1885 | Puritan | USA | Genesta | England | Puritan |
| 1886 | Mayflower | USA | Galatea | England | Mayflower |
| 1887 | Volunteer | USA | Thistle | England | Volunteer |
| 1893 | Vigilant | USA | Valkyrie II | England | Vigilant |
| 1895 | Defender | USA | Valkyrie III | England | Defender |
| 1899 | Columbia | USA | Shamrock | England | Columbia |
| 1901 | Columbia | USA | Shamrock II | England | Columbia |
| 1903 | Reliance | USA | Shamrock III | England | Reliance |
| 1920 | Resolute | USA | Shamrock IV | England | Resolute |
| 1930 | Enterprise | USA | Shamrock V | England | Enterprise |
| 1934 | Rainbow | USA | Endeavour | England | Rainbow |
| 1937 | Ranger | USA | Endeavour II | England | Ranger |
| 1958 | Columbia | USA | Sceptre | England | Columbia |
| 1962 | Weatherly | USA | Gretel | Australia | Weatherly |
| 1964 | Constellation | USA | Sovereign | England |
Constellation
|
| 1967 | Intrepid | USA | Dame Pattie | Australia | Intrepid |
| 1970 | Intrepid | USA | Gretel II | Australia | Intrepid |
| 1974 | Courageous | USA | Southern Cross | Australia |
Courageous
|
| 1977 | Courageous | USA | Australia | Australia |
Courageous
|
| 1980 | Freedom | USA | Australia | Australia | Freedom |
| 1983 | Liberty | USA | Australia II | Australia | Australia II |
| 1987 | Kookaburra III | Australia | Stars & Stripes '87 | USA |
Stars & Stripes '87
|
| 1988 | Stars & Stripes '89 | USA | New Zealand Challenge | New Zealand |
Stars & Stripes
|
| 1992 | America3 | USA | Il Moro di Venezia | Italy | America3 |
| 1995 | Young America | USA | Team New Zealand | New Zealand |
Team New Zealand
|
| 2000 | Team New Zealand | New Zealand | Luna Rossa | Italy |
Team New Zealand
|
| 2003 | Team New Zealand | New Zealand | Alinghi | Switzerland | Alinghi |
| 2007 | Alinghi | Switzerland | Emirates Team New Zealand | New Zealand | Alinghi |
| 2010 | Alinghi | Switzerland | BMW Oracle Racing | USA | BMW Oracle Racing |
| 2013 | Oracle Team USA | USA | Emirates Team New Zealand | New Zealand | Oracle Team USA |
| 2017 | Oracle Team USA | USA | Emirates Team New Zealand | New Zealand | Emirates Team New Zealand |