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PlanetSail's Matt Sheahan takes a took at the beginnings of the America's Cup in 1851

by Matt Sheahan, PlanetSail 10 Aug 2024 22:26 PDT 11 August 2024
The Castle - base of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, Isle of Wight - June 2019 © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com

PlanetSail's Matt Sheahan takes a took at the beginnings of the America's Cup in 1851.

Why was the most famous racing yacht in history facing the wrong way at the start?

The America's Cup is the oldest international sporting trophy in the world and the story of how the America’s Cup came into being is also one of the best known.

But when PlanetSail’s Matt Sheahan was granted rare and exclusive access to the two exclusive yacht clubs that created this infamous trophy, he discovered some fascinating twists and turns to a story he thought he knew well.

Visiting the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes and the New York Yacht Club Matt finds out how and why the America’s Cup began.


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