Sailing | History

The history of America's Cup, the world's oldest sport trophy

#Performance

The challenge between Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Emirates Team New Zealand marks edition number 37

By DemoneRosso | 27 August 2024 | 1 min

The cup was named after the boat that won the first edition of the competition in 1851

For nearly all of the 1900s, the competition was dominated by the British and US superpowers

The boats have become increasingly fast, and the introduction of foils in 2013 means that they now fly across the water

Increasingly high performance exposes crews to new risks and creates a need for protection

As Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Emirates Team New Zealand participate in this 37th edition, both crews will be protected by Dainese

In 1851, the American schooner America defeated the 14 British boats of the Royal Yacht Squadron in what was essentially edition zero of the America's Cup. Only historical documents and some artistic cartoons exist to testify what the boat looked like, and it is impossible to imagine how the gentlemen engaged in circumnavigating the Isle of Wight were dressed. Back then of course, in what was to become the most important event in the sailing world as well as the oldest sporting event, the cruising speed was far from the 50 knots (about 100 km/h) of today.

Reliance and Shamrock lll during the 1903 edition

Columbia and Shamrock ll face to face in 1901

The America's Cup in 1901, with Constitution, Columbia and Independence

For almost the entire last century, the America’s Cup was a family affair between British and American superpowers. At least until 1983 that is, when the Louis Vuitton Cup was established in order to decide who would challenge the cup holder. In the early eighties, the America's Cup also became a talking point in Italy, when the first tricolor boats began to compete and triumph at sea. The first was Azzurra, entered by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and steered by skipper Cino Ricci. And others would soon follow, each increasingly advanced and technological.

Heightened performance

There is a world of technological difference between the 12-meter Azzurra and her successors, which came so close to victory: Il Moro di Venezia, for example, skippered by Paul Cayard, that battled America3 in the 1992 America's Cup, or the Luna Rossa of Francesco De Angelis, which challenged Team New Zealand at the start of the new millennium.

Team New Zealand and Alinghi during 2007 finals

Team New Zealand during 2007 America's Cup

From the 1980s to today, the evolution of construction technology, materials used, and hull design has been nothing short of extreme. The result? Increasingly fast and high-performance hulls, until the advent of foils, which enable the boats to "fly" on the water and require the crew to be extremely physically and technically prepared, like real athletes.

Dainese is the perfect partner for these athletes in terms of their individual protection. This new need has led to the creation of the Dainese Sea-Guard vest, which protects crews on board the boats. To understand today's need for safety, where falling overboard is like sliding on the asphalt of a racetrack, one need only consider the heightened performance of these boats compared to those of just a few years ago.

Luna Rossa meets Team New Zealand in 2000. © Studio Borlenghi

Luna Rossa's crew for the 2000 edition of the America's Cup. © Studio Borlenghi

Luna Rossa's crew during the 2000 edition of the America's Cup. © Studio Borlenghi

The view from Luna Rossa's support boat in 2000. © Studio Borlenghi

Luna Rossa and Team New Zealand in 2021. © Studio Borlenghi

The thirty-seventh edition

Today the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli syndicate, established in 1997, and Emirates Team New Zealand are once again on the hunt for the most prestigious trophy in the sailing world. The Italian crew is taking on the arduous challenge against Emirates Team New Zealand, holder of the 2021 title and a team that has already beaten the Italians in the past. Despite differences in approach, the two crews are equally attentive to safety and both make use of the Dainese Sea-Guard vest as part of their on-board equipment.