NOSTALGIA Sep 17, 08:36
With all this talk about modernizing the America's Cup, it seems appropriate to take a look back -- at least to Newport and the 12 Metre era.
Some of you will enjoy this nice article in today's Boston Globe, by their long-time boating writer Tony Chamberlain who also covered the Cup during Newport's heyday, about the 12M "world championship" taking place there this weekend....
America's glory revisited
Cup challengers vie in 12-meter races
By Tony Chamberlain, Globe Staff | September 16, 2005
NEWPORT, R.I. -- It has been 23 years -- almost to the week -- that this onetime sailing capital was in its glory days of the America's Cup.
Twenty-three years since Dennis Conner, sailing his ruby red 12-meter, Liberty, became the first sailor to lose the America's Cup for the New York Yacht Club in 132 years, ending the longest streak in modern sports history.
Yesterday on the leaden gray seas, once the playground of America's Cup racers, 16 12-meters -- many of them America's Cup champions and challengers -- sailed three races in the first day of the Twelve-Meter World Championships.
On a day of rain on the coast, a few miles offshore, the conditions were relatively clear with light to moderate breezes, not unlike much of the weather for Cup matches once sailed on Rhode Island Sound in September. The fleet was broken into four classes, representing the era the boats were designed and built -- Grand Prix, Modern, Classic traditional, and Vintage. (More...)
There are some great photos on the NYYC website. Below is just one, courtesy of our old friend, NYYC member, and sailing photog of considerable repute, Dan Nerney.
Courageous, left, the successful defender in '74 (Hood) and '77 (Turner),
with Tom Blackaller's '87 LVC semifinalist USA. Click on the image to
enlarge.
The late Tom Blackaller.
Some of you will enjoy this nice article in today's Boston Globe, by their long-time boating writer Tony Chamberlain who also covered the Cup during Newport's heyday, about the 12M "world championship" taking place there this weekend....
America's glory revisited
Cup challengers vie in 12-meter races
By Tony Chamberlain, Globe Staff | September 16, 2005
NEWPORT, R.I. -- It has been 23 years -- almost to the week -- that this onetime sailing capital was in its glory days of the America's Cup.
Twenty-three years since Dennis Conner, sailing his ruby red 12-meter, Liberty, became the first sailor to lose the America's Cup for the New York Yacht Club in 132 years, ending the longest streak in modern sports history.
Yesterday on the leaden gray seas, once the playground of America's Cup racers, 16 12-meters -- many of them America's Cup champions and challengers -- sailed three races in the first day of the Twelve-Meter World Championships.
On a day of rain on the coast, a few miles offshore, the conditions were relatively clear with light to moderate breezes, not unlike much of the weather for Cup matches once sailed on Rhode Island Sound in September. The fleet was broken into four classes, representing the era the boats were designed and built -- Grand Prix, Modern, Classic traditional, and Vintage. (More...)
There are some great photos on the NYYC website. Below is just one, courtesy of our old friend, NYYC member, and sailing photog of considerable repute, Dan Nerney.
Courageous, left, the successful defender in '74 (Hood) and '77 (Turner),
with Tom Blackaller's '87 LVC semifinalist USA. Click on the image to
enlarge.
The late Tom Blackaller.
History | by TFE
