I'm sure I'll get shot down in flames for saying this, but this is more exciting than the current AC! I know the modern boats are a technical masterpiece, but I just can't view it as 'real' sailing. Modern foiling cats leave me cold, superb as they are.
I started sailing when I was four and was ten when this race happened. My parents let me stay up late to watch it, I think. I remember feeling both immense pride and somber humility watching Stars & Stripes cross the finish line because even then, I had reverence for the Cup and knew what a blow it must have been to New Zealand. Fast forward to the summer of '95, between my junior and senior years of high school, when I had a job at Camp Normandy on Lake Champlain as a sailing counselor. One of the other counselors there was a Kiwi and knew how to sail. One afternoon he and I got to talking and he says he'd like to challenge me to a race. So we found time to take a couple Sunfish out and have our own little America's Cup. He won some and I won some, but I don't remember the score at the end of it all. He was a damn fine sailor, though. Mate, I forget your name, but on the off chance you see this... I'm sure you remember me. Those were some good times. Thanks.
A textbook performance by the greatest sailor of the 20th century undertaking the most dramatic comeback in sports history.. Alone... with out the support of the NYYC.. he woke up, put together a design team, they built their own sails, they trained, they raised the money, they built boats and took on all comers.. and showed us how to sail a boat race.. Dennis Conner IS the greatest sailor of the 20th century... there are other great sailors.. but none his equal..
Yeah…. So many think these new boats are so great👎. These 12 meters boats were fantastic! Teams really had to work hard. That blown sail has gone down in history. I really wish they would bring these boats back. You really had to know your boat, sails, wind, and team! And just when you thought they could get no more from that boat, it gets faster!
@@Model3dude On the boats... while I share your love of the 12's the technology they were developing was of minimal importance to main stream sailors.. it had reached the limits of what was possible around 1987.... The new foiling boats with their explosive speed are truly exiting technology and this speed is the future of mainstream sailing.. I think if I had the cruising version .. I could make it across Lake Ontario in 45 minutes - not 4 hours.. be there, have lunch and make it back to the dock for dinner.. Yes I like the crew work on the 12's, the seamanship, optimization of the boats - after all it is how I grew up racing on a big boat (C&C custom 53') but that was the past.. Later I had a Hobie Trifoiler which I sailed at 35 knots sustained speed.. more than twice the peak speeds I had experienced surfing the big boat but with a fraction of the economic resources.. I LIKE the big foiling monohulls.. and yes I like that they can sail at 50 knots.. I am thinking they do represent the future of sailing.. and speed is addictive and practical too...
I live about a hundred kilometres from Fremantle and my mum dragged me out of bed about 3 o'clock in the morning in '83 to watch Australia II win in Newport. I was 15 at the time. Fast forward to '87 and I was in Victoria during our Christmas holiday period during a lot of the trials. My uncle there was watching those trials like an eagle on his big colour television wishing he was going back to Western Australia with us. I was just mesmerized watching those yachts on that beautiful blue water of Gauge Roads. We were back home for the actual challenge. It was such an exciting time. It was a good feeling when Australia won the Cup but it was just as good seeing America win it back. Two best friends making history together...
If anyone wants to sail on some of these yachts- there are 4 of them in Phillipsburg St Maarten- they have Canada II, True North IV, US55 and US56. However, US55 was severely damaged when Irma hit the island really badly- so they are planning to restore it. But it's a real rush to sail these classic yachts. We've done it 6 times and loved it every time.
It'sALLaLIE you might be mistaken..... This yank has always been impressed with you kiwis because of that boat. For me the only thing better than the yanks winning the cup is you kiwis winning.
I was 9 years old during this AC and my dad and I would stay up very late to watch live on ESPN. The Challenger Finals were some of the best racing of the Cup, in my opinion. It was pretty clear that whichever boat won that match was going to win the Cup. It was a great rivalry. Count me as another yank who respected the hell out of KZ-7 and Kiwi sailors in general.
Yeah we knew we had the ability, but KZ7 got us hooked from the comfort of our living room's, back in New Zealand, overnight we became yaghting experts and critic's, we got a taste and wanted more. Despite the fact we lost the America's Cup Challenger Final that year, it wouldn't be the last time we challenged. fair to say, we got the America's Cup Fever.
Tis my first yacht racing viewing after bump over CNN's America's Cup preview. Love the old J than current one. Amazing treat, hull gliding and banking inches above water with the elegant sail pull thru the wavy breeze. Thanks, enjoy watching!
The real final was the Louis Vuitton final. KZ7 at least won one race, and would have won more had the wind not been unusually strong for that week. KZ7 then won the 12 Metre Worlds, defeating Bengal Bay (Australia 2 renamed) in light conditions while US55 didn't make the semis. The heavier US55 was a heavy weather boat but no good in the light. KZ7 was an all weather boat.
@@scotttild S&S lost to NYYC (America 2) in Rd 1, who in turn lost to KZ7, who in turn lost to S&S. S&S then lost a few races in Rd 2 but came good in Rd 3 (losing 7 in the Rd Robins), whereas NYYC appeared to go backwards, lost a heap of races and then just missed out to French Kiss for a spot in the SFs. KZ7 was a much faster boat in the light and medium airs, but US55 went faster through the big Gauge Roads swells that came with the big winds off Freo in the LV final. KZ7's crew made some mistakes to be sure (S&S too), but were excellent and the wind strength was the key factor in the 4-1 win. Australia 3 was a heavy weather boat and had won the 12M Worlds the year before in the big winds off Freo (before US55 was ready). KZ7 beat Australia 2 (renamed Bengal Bay?) in the light winds off Sardinia in the 1987 12M Worlds. Remember it like yesterday, but for the rest of you, there's: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_Louis_Vuitton_Cup
Even though KZ7 ultimately lost to Stars & Stripes, their skipper, Christ Dickson, did a fantastic job that year and he was only 25-year-old at the time. During the round robin leg, Kiwi Magic only lost one race (to Stars & Stripes) and the New Zealand syndicate managed to make the Louis Vuitton Cup final in its very first Americas Cup event. IOW, they were basically an expansion team and they still managed to get to the semi-finals. Even though this would be the closest Chris would ever come to winning the America's Cup, that initial success by a New Zealand syndicate paved the way for New Zealand to ultimately win the Cup in 1995. And one of the crew members of the New Zealand boat that year was a young Russell Coutts.
@@georgfriedrichhandel4390 don't bother trying to correct Scott's alternative facts Sunny. He has a narrative he recalls and no facts will change his mind.
Soupdragon 64 you are spot on. Like most pro=sports as it becomes so technical that it also becomes boring. Like baseball, I rather watch a good college or high school game. For "real" sailboat racing was 12m. I was in Newport, RI. for the 83 cup .. that's sailing.
As cricket fans will understand, 2021's AC was like T20, whereas the 12Ms and IACCs were like ODIs and the Whitbread was a test series. The public might really like today's stuff, but the real enthusiasts love the 12s, the IACCs and the Maxis.
Cripes that brings back memories, I was working in Wellington at the time, oops no I was working in Invercargill making a fortune in my own mind, I loved it! Queenstown for the Weekends, fantastic, skiing, fishing, hunting its all there down in the South; yes Southland. One of the highest incomes per capita in NZ. The Climate in Invercargill was way better than Wellington! Such a trip down memory lane!
The current AC is a jock, it’s all about money and technology , not sailing skill. Changing sails, adding different sails, etc. this current AC is all about flying a boat, I thought it was about sailing. I’ll take this AC over the current one.
Hear, hear! I avidly followed every America's Cup from the time Australia first became involved with Sir Frank Packer's challenge with Gretel and the company I worked for between 1975 and 1993 helped sponsor one of the defender contestants in 1987. Then we had the debacle of the 1988 challenge of gigantic mono-hull vs multi-hull and I lost interest.....but regained it when the IACC design was adopted (1992 - 2007).....and finally gave it all away when the multi-hulls returned and there was more competition being carried out in the courtrooms than on water. Sad days when the twelves were dropped. They were (and still are) beautiful yachts.
@@hcrun You sound quite old. They are appealing to younger fans now with faster boats that are masterpieces of design. These old boats look slow and boring and dull in comparison. They are doing the right thing for the sport to survive. They need to innovate as they cannot survive by catering to an old generation who do not like change.
@@rotwart what are you doing, watching this vid? It’s clearly not for you and your potty mouth. Read all the comments - some of us are young and we all enjoy true yachting, not the current drag racing. Step off and get back to watching TikTok on your iPhone 11.
This is a fun watch! I was a young kid in 1987 but vividly remember this being a huge deal in the USA with my dad all in on the engineering aspects of sailing. I know he ended up buying Connor's book and the "official jacket". Fond memories.....
This is sailboat racing as it should be. The Americas Cup racing going on now with Cats racing in sheltered waters may be fast, actually very fast, isn't what it should be. Look at these 12M boats bashing through rough seas, tacking and jibing, can watch this all day long. Cut a Cat in these waters and it would break up
Man after my own heart Randy H. During the 12-meter era, good sailing skills - not just fast yachts - won races. Today' it's mostly about technology. The America's Cup is not a sailor's race anymore.
J class or 12 meter boats truly let you know who the better sailors are these foil boats great bits of technology and fair weather boats but not what the AC was originally envisioned as. Just my opinion not a dig at anyone.
These boats are so much more beautiful than the current foiling cats, and it's actually like sailing! Still, I don't think these boats will pitchpole, so the cats have that going for them.
Or the Louis Vuitton final, or Rothmans Vs Merit coming into Fremantle after 7,000 nautical miles from South America and being separated by 28 seconds in the 1989 Round the World race.
In 1987 13 syndicates in the Louis Vuitton and 4 in the Defenders series - now AC lucky to get 4 teams - big money will whittle down Challenger series to 2-3 teams if they are lucky, very sad.
The essence of sailing -- is the sails! Selection, trimming, spinnaker vs gennaker, etc. the foiling cats are impressive but it's just not sailing; the main is lightly trimmed and the jib is not trimmed at all. might as well have a motor with a propeller on these things. :(
Foo Manchu you don’t think the current wing trimmers are talented? Really? If you say that in the wrong bar you end up in a “serious” disagreement. Every generation of AC sailors have the right stuff.
After this winning series Dennis Conner shows how he knew liberty was a slug compared to Australia II but this time he is in control of design and setup and it showed 4 Zip and new York yacht club couldn’t even qualify against Stars and Stripes Santiago California after 1983 defeat Dennis was livid his boat was so dated against Australia but not this time
I worked at Mews road fremantle during the 87 cup. The crews from all countries were very welcoming. Got to go to the after parties. It was the best time of my life.I agree the 12 metres were more exiting as it was a battle of attrition. The modern cats are boring to watch.
yes dont know when the boats change the old kind is real hard sailing seen the americas boat in long beach calif in the 80's when it lost it mass it was WINDY day they were pulled back in port
46:00 Kookaburra III sets a gennaker despite protesting against Australia IV previously using a gennaker in the defender series. One example of frivolous infighting by the defenders.
I have a 1987 Americas cup knife in my possession. I was trying to do some research on it, but couldn't find out how much it's worth, only that it's rare. Can anyone shed some light on it please???
Ahhh Memories Memories i was Cycling Around Rotnest Island Counting QUOKA's Best View By FaR ! Worked on some of the Design of Presentation Of the Boat in Adelaide Few Years Bee4 Not an Easy Portfolio Slange
Like the worded wonders from Garland Roark ,hewn logs 🌘 crescent shaped ribs flaring bows like to a bone from Adam to create a woman ', as all ships were the antonymity of ladder rungs taut lines of guy ropes an yellow pine white oak for her scantings , how very real which dreams were launched, happiness in the hearts for those who experience a mariners life
All these people whining about how things used to be better... Both boats have their pro's and con's. The old 12s are more relatable, they look like the boat I used to sail in (and like a boat I might be able to afford one day), but they're slow compared to today's boats (even the VOR class ships). The AC72 was an epic masterpiece of engineering and I will always remember the goosebumps I had the first time I saw one foil and reach insane speeds- they really are the Formula 1 of sailing, including the ridiculous price tag. There should be a "Classic America's Cup" and a "Contemporary America's Cup". America's Cup people, please reach out to me, I have plenty of ideas ;)
Why do we invariably want either or when both are great whether it's sailing or any other activity. But still have a preference for the magic of foiling - boats flying indeed!
Well I started watching then so they are even. I guess they are getting rid of boring, old fans and gaining new and exciting younger fans. Good riddance.
Too heavy, too slow and too far from the spectators. These were the best we could manage back then. It's like comparing fat cart horses with toned thoroughbreds.
Wrong wrong wrong, to all of you. Sailboat racing is the most boring spectator sport ever invented. It does not matter what boat is used, still a bore. Let the billionaires choose their boats and don't watch. Go sailing!
to some degree I agree with you , because to the unitiatied, we have stupid technical names for things that cause a non sailor to lose interest very quickly. Ive never heard a commentator explain the rules and tactics in a way that a non sailor might start to understand what the sportsmen and women are actually trying to do.
Tell me about it, spent 4 solid nights,& days,,drunk in FREO,,,JURING THAT TIME,,PERTH,& FREO. Went through a massive change..Billions was spent re,vamp ING both “city’s”,, Had a 💥 🎉🎉😂😂❤❤
