1992 Louis Vuitton Cup

3rd Louis Vuitton Cup

Event information
Type	Challenge race for America's Cup
Dates	25 January - 30 April 1992
Host city	San Diego, California
Boats	Il Moro di Venezia Australian Challenge Desafio Español Copa America Le Defi Francais 95 Nippon Challenge New Zealand Challenge Swedish America's Cup Challenge
Results
Winner	Il Moro di Venezia
Succession
Previous	1987 Louis Vuitton Cup
Next	1995 Louis Vuitton Cup

The 3rd Louis Vuitton Cup was held in San Diego, United States in 1992. The winner, Il Moro di Venezia, went on to challenge for the 1992 America's Cup.

Teams

The skippers of the 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup

Eight challengers from seven nations contested the 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup. Together they spent over $250 million. ^[1] Il Moro di Venezia alone constructed four boats and spent over $85 million.

Club	Team	Skipper	Yachts
Compagnia della Vela di Venezia	Il Moro di Venezia	Paul Cayard	ITA-25
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia	Australian Challenge	Syd Fischer	AUS-17
Darling Harbour Yacht Club	Spirit of Australia	Peter Gilmour	AUS-21
Monte Real Club de Yates de Bayona	Desafio Español Copa America	Pedro Campos Calvo-Sotelo	ESP-22
Yacht Club de Sète	Le Defi Francais 95	Marc Pajot	FRA-27
Nippon Ocean Racing Club	Nippon Challenge	Chris Dickson	JPN-26
Mercury Bay Boating Club	New Zealand Challenge	Rod Davis	NZL-20
Stenungsbaden Yacht Club	Swedish America's Cup Challenge	Gunnar Krantz	SWE-19

Il Moro di Venezia

The Italian challenge Il Moro Challenge was funded by Raul Gardini and skippered by American Paul Cayard. The primary designer was Germán Frers and the operations manager was Laurent Esquier. John Kolius was involved but could not sail as he had not completed his Italian eligibility requirements. ^[2] Tommaso Chieffi was the tactician and Enrico Chieffi was the navigator. Other crew included Robert Hopkins and Steven Erickson. ^{[3] [4]}

Australian Challenge

From Sydney's Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the Australian Challenge was skippered by Syd Fischer. Colin Beashel was the helmsman and Hugh Treharne the tactician. ^[5]

Spirit of Australia

A second Australian challenge from Sydney, Spirit of Australia was headed by Iain Murray, skippered by Peter Gilmour and the team included Tom Schnackenberg. ^[5]

Desafio Español Copa America

From Spain, ESP-22 was skippered by Pedro Campos Calvo-Sotelo and coached by Peter Lester. ^[6] The crew included Antonio Gorostegui. ^[5]

Le Defi Francais 95

Le Defi Francais 95 was skippered by Marc Pajot. Bertrand Pacé was the backup helmsman and navigator.

Nippon Challenge

The first entry from Japan, Nippon Challenge was skippered by Chris Dickson, who had fallen out with the New Zealand Challenge during the 1987 Louis Vuitton Cup. John Cutler was the tactician and the crew included Erle Williams and Mike Spanhake. ^[7]

New Zealand Challenge

Michael Fay financed what would be his final New Zealand Challenge. Managed by Peter Blake, the team was skippered by Rod Davis and NZL 20's crew included tactician David Barnes, bow, Alan Smith; mid-bow, David Brooke; mast, Barry McKay; pit, Denis Kendall; floater, Mark Hauser; grinders, Andrew Taylor and Sean Clarkson; genoa trimmers, Kevin Shoebridge and Grant Loretz; mainsheet traveler, Don Cowie; mainsheet trimmer, Simon Daubney; and running backstays, Tony Rae and Peter Evans. Russell Coutts sailed the second boat and additional crew members included Chris Salthouse, Robbie Naismith, Ross Halcrow, Warwick Fleury, Matt Mason, Dean Phipps, Gavin Brady and Nick Heron. ^{[8] [7]}

Coutts and Brad Butterworth replaced Davis and Barnes during the Louis Vuitton Cup finals. ^[9]

Swedish America's Cup Challenge

From the Stenungsbaden Yacht Club, the challenge was skippered by Gunnar Krantz.

Round robin

Team name	Races	Won	RR1 Pts.	RR2 Pts.	RR3 Pts.	Total Pts.	Ranking
Nippon Challenge	21	18	6	20	56	82	1
New Zealand Challenge	21	18	6	28	40	74	2
Il Moro di Venezia	21	16	5	24	40	69	3
Le Defi Francais 95	21	14	5	16	40	61	4
Desafio Español Copa America	21	7	2	12	16	30	5
Spirit of Australia	21	7	3	8	16	27	6
Swedish America's Cup Challenge	21	3	1	4	8	13	7
Australia Challenge	21	1	0	0	8	8	8

During RR1 a team scored 1 point per win. During RR2 a team scored 4 points per win. During RR3 a team scored 8 points per win.

Finals

Semi finals

Team name	Races	Won	Ranking
New Zealand Challenge	9	7	1
Il Moro di Venezia	9	5	2
Nippon Challenge	9	3	3=
Le Defi Francais 95	9	3	3=

Final

Team Name	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T
New Zealand Challenge	W (1:32)	L	W (0:34)	W (2:26)	W (2:38)*	L	L	L	L	3
Il Moro di Venezia	L	W (0:01)	L	L	L*	W (0:43)	W (0:53)	W (0:20)	W (1:33)	5

*Race removed from records after Il Moro di Venezia were successful in a protest over New Zealand's bowsprit.

References

1. Bill Center. America's Cup '95: The Official Record. Hong Kong, Tehabi Books, 1995. ISBN   0-7900-0442-9 p.33
2. "Yachting". 1 January 1992.
3. "Red yacht from Italy has red, white, blue brains".
4. The Louis Vuitton Cup Bruno Trouble, p.171.
5. "Yachting". 1 May 1991.
6. "Peter Lester competing, not commentating, on the water at World Masters Games". Stuff. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
7. "America's Cup final pits old against new".
8. ROBERTS, RICH (6 December 1991). "Kiwis Pick American as Skipper" . Retrieved 27 July 2017– via LA Times.
9. "America's Cup- Team NZ wish Davis well with new team".

External links

• 1992 America's Cup ultimatesail.com