NZL 32 successful challenger
of the AC 1995
USA 36, the unsuccessful
Defender of the AC 1995
In the now 144-year history, it happened after
1983 to the 2nd time that a challenger won the
Cup. It was the Black Magic NZL 32, which
defeated Young America USA-36.
This also Dennis Conner lost the 2nd times the AC.
7 teams were sailing in the Louis Vuitton Cup for
the right to challenge the AC. As in the U.S. three
teams competed for the defence, a regatta was
held sponsored, by the Japanese watch maker as
CITIZEN CUP 1995.
In 1983,each team spent between 5 - 8 million U$.
In 1987, the sum increased to 10-15 million U $.
In 1992, the Italian syndicate Il Moro di Venecia
spent with its five yachts a budget of 83 million and the America3 Foundation with its 4 new boats of
67 million U$.
Therefore a cost reduction program was decided for the AC 1995 with the limitation to a maximum of 2
new IACC yachts with sails up to 47 per team for all races.
15 new boats with sail number AUS 29 (Sidney 95) to USA 43 (Mighty Mary) were launched. Of these,
seven yachts were sailing in the LVC and 3 in the Citizen Cup, in which even took part America3 USA
23 from 1992.
Four syndicates (Nippon Challenge, Team NZL, France 95, OneAustralia) gave each 2 boats in order, the
rest financed by only one yacht.
Dr. William (Bill) Koch surprised the public with the first women-crew who raced with USA 43 Mighty
Marry up to the Finale of the Citizen Cup.
The yacht OneAustralia AUS 35 broke up and sank spectacularly during a race in the RR4 of the LVC.
“Black Magic” NZL - 32 winner of the America’s Cup 1995
With the yacht NZL 32 "Black Magic", headed
by Sir Peter Blake and helmed by Russell Coutts
the T
With the yacht NZL 32 "Black Magic", headed
by Sir Peter Blake and helmed by Russell Coutts
the Team New Zealand won after 3 attempts in vain
1987 (Kiwi magic), 1988 ("big boat" KZ 1) and
1992 (NZL 20) the America's Cup 1995.
The strength of Team New Zealand were not an exceptional
yacht construction or special sailing designs etc. but a
homogenous teamwork focused fully on the boat. Of course,
with designers Doug Peterson and Laurie Davidson as well
as the sail designer Tom Schnackenberg were experts at
work.
But it was their maxime to observe the expertise of the crew at any time. Is typical for example that the
sister yacht NZL-38 was estimated and used in all 4 Round Robins of the LVC as the newer and therefore
faster yacht. But at the end it was decided at the request of the team before the Semifinals to sail the
older NZL-32 until the end of the competitions.
Young America (Mermaid) USA 36 lost as a defender the America's Cup in 1995
The "Mermaid" or "Dorothy" had to suffer 2 major
damages, but was still the fastest yacht in the Citizen
The "Mermaid" or "Dorothy" had to suffer 2 major
damages, but was still the fastest yacht in the Citizen
Cup, but could not win it.
In January 95 swept a tornado-like storm over the
Mission Bay and destroyed the Young America's Sail
Loft. Parts thereof riddled her hull. The repair cost U$
600.00. A week before the semifinals the yacht was hit
on the tow to the sailing area by a 3 m wave that hit a
leak shortly before the keel blade. It had to be hastily
repaired.
Dennis Conner as the winner of the Citizen Cup agreed
with PACT 95 that he sails the "blond beauty" in the
America's Cup.
But he used the main sail with the logos of its
contractual main sponsors of US 34.
He lost.
The agreement with PACT 95 was opposed as a lope
hole fiercely by the LVC challengers. They were forced
by the protocoll to nominate irrevocable 1 yacht only
on April 9th (at the end of the final in the LVC and CC )
Conner could wait as representative of the San Diego
YC (Defender) with its decision until the morning of
the 1st AC regatta (theoretically nearly 4 weeks) and
in addition had the choice between 3 boats.
The beautiful yacht was painted by the famous pop
artist Roy Lichtenstein.
The LOUIS VUITTON CUP 1995
The opponents of the LVC 1995:
Syndicate
Head / CEO
Yacht / Name
Sail #
YachtClub
Team New Zealand
Peter Blake
Black Magic
NZL 32, NZL 38
Royal New Zealand Y. Sq.
OneAustralia Challenge
John Bertrand
oneAustralia
AUS 31, AUS 35
Southern Cross Y. C.
TAG Heuer Challenge
Chris Dickson
NZL 39
NZL 39
Tutukaka South Pacific Y. C.
Nippon Challenge
Tatsumitsu Yamasaki
Nippon 95 /
JPN 41
Nippon Y. C.
France America 95
Francois Giraudet
France 3
FRA 37, FRA 33
Y. C. de Sete
Cade 95
Miguel Aguilo
Roja de Espana
ESP 42
Monte Real Nautico d. Y. d. B.
Sydney 95 Challenge Syd Fisher
Sydney 95
AUS 29
Cruising Y.C of Australia
The semi-finals of the LVC 1995
Syndicate
Head / CEO
Yacht / Name
Sail #
YachtClub
Team New Zealand
Peter Blake
Black Magic
NZL 32,
Royal New Zealand Y. Sq.
OneAustralia Challenge
John Bertrand
oneAustralia
AUS 31,
Southern Cross Y. C.
TAG Heuer Challenge
Chris Dickson
NZL 39
NZL 39
Tutukaka South Pacific Y. C.
Nippon Challenge
Tatsumitsu Yamasaki
Nippon 95 /
JPN 41
Nippon Y. C.
The finale of the LVC 1995
Syndicate
Head / CEO
Yacht / Name
Sail #
YachtClub
Team New Zealand
Peter Blake
Black Magic
NZL 32,
Royal New Zealand Y. Sq.
OneAustralia Challenge
John Bertrand
oneAustralia
AUS 31,
Southern Cross Y. C.
Winer and official challenger became
Black Magic NZL-32 from New Zealand.
Winer and official challenger became Black
Magic NZL 32 of New Zealand.
She defeated OneAustralia AUS 31 and won
the AC 1995 as well..
Yacht / Country : oneAustralia
Sail No AUS 31 and AUS 35
Syndicate : oneAustrlai Challenge
CEO : John Bertrand
Yacht Club: Southern Cross Yacht Club
Designer : Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design
Iain Murray & Associates
David Burns
Boat Builder : John McConaghy
Skipper: John Bertrand
AUS-31 oneAustralia reached the final of the LVC 95
With oneAustralia AUS-31 the Australians designed a long,
narrow and fast yacht,
With oneAustralia AUS-31 -which had won the IACC
World Championship 94- the Australians had a long,
narrow and fast yacht, which represented the 2nd
generation of the IACC class. The newer AUS -35
was even faster.
But during the 4th Round Robin AUS 35 broke
suddenly through in the middle and sank upright
in about 2 minutes. No one was injured. Critically,
however, became the situation for the 2 men under
the foredeck, normally packing or preparing the
spinnakers or foresails. The AUS 31 had to be made
competitive therefore in no time. . It was again radically
changed between the Semifinals and the Final. It
was also cast a new lead bomb of ca 20 tons that
had to be immediately delivered. The cast was still
so hot that a fire broke out on the transport vehicle
between San Francisco and San Diego.
AUS 31 lost the Final of the LVC against NZL 32.
FRA-37 France 3 could not reach the semifinals of the LVC 95
Yacht / Country : Franc 2 and France 3
Sail No FRA-33 and FRA 37
Syndicate : France America'95
CEO : Francois Giraudet
Yacht Club: YC de Sete
Designer : Philippe Briand
Boat Builder : Philippe Pallu de la
Barrière
Skipper: Marc Pajot
But in the final rounds she could not beat the Spanish
and Japanese teams and missed the Semifinals.
After Marc Pajot had reached the Semifinals 1987 and
1992 , the team was very optimistic to achieve at
least the same result in 1995. But the luck played a
prank. As France 2 (FRA-33) should be let for the first
time in San Diego to water, the lift broke. The yacht
popped so fierce on the mole that the keel broke up
to the deck. The repair lasted 4 weeks and cost 1
million U$. France 3 (FRA 37 was not ready yet.) The
team had no yacht for training or testing. When
France 2 was again repaired, shortly thereafter it lost
the keel when testing a revolutionary mainsail and
capsized. The team was again missing a test
platform. France 3 was hastily finished.
But in the final rounds she could not beat the Spanish
and Japanese teams and missed the Semifinals.
JPN-41 Nippon 95 reached the semifinals of the LVC 95
Yacht / Country : NIppon 94 and Nippon
95
Sail No JPN 30 and JPN 41
Syndicate : Nippon Challenge
CEO : Tatsumitsu Yamasaki
Yacht Club: Nippon Yacht Club
Designer : Ichiro Yokoyama
Boat Builder : Yamaha
Skipper: Makoto Namba
Almost a year before the official Challanger Trials
the Japanese syndicate became active in San
Diego. The IACC yacht from 1992 -as a training
boat had been so radically rebuilt -that people
began to ask whether it has not be to classified as
a new boat. The team sailed 3 Round Robins with
JPN 30 before the new JPN 41 was used. This was
not much faster than the predecessor.
The Japanese Challenger reached again the
Semifinals.
An excellent achievement when you consider that it
started only 1992 pretty much out of nowhere in
the AC.
In April 1997 Makoto Namba sailed on a regatta Hong Kong-Osaka
hurled by 30 ktn gusts and waves between 4-5 m. He was thrown by a
wave overboard and lost his life. He was on his way below decks and
had just latched from his security line lock.
The japanese Challenger reached again the
Semifinals.
NZL-39 reached the semifinals of the LVC 95
Yacht / Country : TAG HEUER NZL
Sail No NZL 39
Syndicate : Tutukakaka Challenge
CEO : Chris Dickson
Yacht Club: Tutukaka South
Pacific Yacht Club
Designer : Bruce Farr
Boat Builder : Cookson Boats
Skipper: Chris Dickson
After his successes as skipper 1987 (Kiwi Magic)
and 1992 (Nippon Challenge) Chris Dickson
decided to form his own team.
With his yacht, drawn by Bruce Farr and built by
the renowned Cookson Boats he had a dangerous
candidate for the LVC. Through its modest
budget, he could not finance a second yacht resp.
crew for internal comparisons and tests. Under
these conditions, many had him credited a LVC victory .
A great financial help brought the Sport Watches
producer TAG HEUER. Dickson wanted to call his
yacht TAG HEUER, but that was not permitted by
the LVC Committee. Thus, it was called only NZL-
39.
He again proved his quality as a skipper and
steered the NZL 39 into the semifinals of the LVC.
Chris Dickson proved again his quality as skipper and
steered the NZL 39 in the semifinals of the LVC.
ESP-42 Rio de Espana, challenger of the LVC 1995
The Spaniards sailed fair but aggressively and
won the one or another surprising victory.
Yacht / Country : Rio de Espana
Sail No ESPN 42
Syndicate : Desafio Espanol
CEO : Miguel Aguilo
Yacht Club: Monte Real Club de
Yates de Bayona
Designers : Joaquín Coello
Javier Pamies
Manuel Ruiz Elvira
Boat Builder : Rodman-Polyships
Skipper: Pedro Campos
The team had a smaller budget than 1992.
Thus, all preparations including the order of a
new yacht was delayed.
ESP 42 was built very late within 2 months and
hastily shipped to San Diego without tests in
Spain. There had been 2 days time only ahead
of the first race to equip the boat. They were
permanently lacking on time and practice.
The Spaniards sailed fair but aggressively and
won the one or another surprising victory.
AUS-29 Sydney 95, challenger of the LVC 1995
Yacht / Country : SYDNEY 95
Sail No :
AUS-29
Syndicate : Australian Chllenge
CEO : Syd Fischer
Yacht Club: Cruising Yacht Club of
Australia
Designer : David Burns
Boat Builder : McConaghy
Skipper: Syd Fischer
Syd Fisher agreed -fiercely criticized by the
competition -a collaboration with oneAuatralia. They
complained, that with AUS -29 a third instead of the
allowed 2 new boats was available for oneAustralia for
testing purposes. Sydney 95 was designed by the
same consortium as AUS 31 and 35. The Team Fisher's
benefited from the months training with the Australian
partner. AUS 29, was the heaviest of all strong winds
constructions in the LVC, but had to sail almost all
races in light winds. They won more victories than in
any Cup since 1983 . With the ratio 5 wins against 19
losses they landed still in last place of the LVC 95. The
reason was that victories were assessed at the
beginning of the races with less points than in later
rounds.
Sydney 95 was designed by the
same consortium as AUS 31 and 35.
AMERICA’S CUP HISTORY 1983 - 2013
