Admiral's Cup

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The Admiral's Cup is an international yachting regatta. For many years it was known as the unofficial world championship of offshore racing. [1] [2]

Contents

The Admiral's Cup regatta was started in 1957 and was normally a biennial event (occurring in odd-numbered years) which was competed for between national teams. However the event was not staged in 2001 and was last held in 2003. It was cancelled at short notice in 2005. After this hiatus the Admiral's Cup returns in 2025 which 15 teams entered from around the world.

The 2003 event did not follow the normal format and allowed entries from any yacht club affiliated to a national authority, thus allowing the possibility of several teams per country.

The regatta was based at Cowes on the Isle of Wight off southern England and was organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

History: 1957–1999

From 1957 to 1999 the cup was competed for between national teams, each having three boats. Initially only Great Britain and the United States took part but, in later years, many other teams also participated. The Fastnet race was part of the Admiral's Cup during this time.

The Australians won for the first time in 1967, the winning boat—Mercedes III—designed by Ted Kaufman and Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen), who went on to success in the America's Cup. [3]

In 1971 the British Prime Minister, Edward Heath, captained one of the winning boats. [4]

Recent history

The 2003 event, the last held, was planned to be based in Dún Laoghaire in Ireland, but this was changed at short notice for reasons that are still unclear. [5] [6] In addition, instead of being a competition between national teams, the event was competed between yacht clubs, each with two boats. [7]

The 2005 event was cancelled only months before the event was to be held, [8] after only two teams had entered. [9]

Although the RORC (Royal Ocean Racing Club) was looking into reviving the event for 2011, [10] [11] this did not happen.

RORC has announced the event will run in July 2025. [12]

Winners

YearWinnerTop Placed Yacht
1957Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
1959Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
1961Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1963Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Clarion of Wight (GBR)
1965Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
1967Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Mercedes III (AUS)
1969Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Red Rooster (USA)
1971Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
1973Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
1975Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
1977Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Imp (USA)
1979Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Police Car (AUS)
1981Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
1983Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
1985Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
1987Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Propaganda (NZL)
1989Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Jamarella (GBR)
1991Flag of France.svg  France Corum Saphir (FRA)
1993Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
1995Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
1997Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
1999Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2001cancelled
2003Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Wild Oats (AUS)
2005cancelled
2007cancelled
2025Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco Jolt 6 (MON)

References

  1. Independent Newspaper, England, 2003 [ dead link ]
  2. BBC news on 2001 event
  3. Bob Fisher (2009). "1967: The Aussies' Big Success". Royal Ocean Racing Club Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  4. "1971: Admiral's Cup triumph for Heath". On This Day - 11 August. BBC. 11 August 1971. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  5. Southern Daily Echo, November 2002
  6. Scuttlebutt News
  7. US Sailing 2003 Events page Archived May 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "RORC Admiral's Cup page. Checked April 2008". Archived from the original on 26 April 2005. Retrieved 18 July 2005.
  9. "Admiral's Cup cancelled". Yachting World. 7 April 2005. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  10. "RORC Enlist Skandia To Help Revive the Admiral's Cup". Admiral's Cup. Royal Ocean Racing Club. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  11. Alexander, Stuart (3 June 2009). "Admiral's Cup could be revived". The Independent. Independent News and Media. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  12. "2025 Admiral's Cup - Cowes, Isle of Wight". Royal Ocean Racing Club. London. Retrieved 23 January 2024.