1. The America’s Cup is the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating The Ashes and Modern Olympics by decades. It’s the hardest trophy in sport to win. Since 1851 just four nations have won: Australia (once), New Zealand and Switzerland (twice) and the USA (28 times).
2. For the first time in 132 years in 1983, the America’s Cup left the New York Yacht Club and ended the Americans winning streak. Dennis Conner, ‘Mr. America’s Cup’ lost to Australian skipper, John Bertrand, on his radically-designed winged keel that gave the 12-Metre Class boat superior speed under most conditions.
