Sultans Of Swing: New Zealand's history at the America's Cup

Well, with Auckland (Or not) set to host the next America's Cup in 2021, here is some of the evolution of New Zealand's America's Cup yachts over the years:

1986/87 - Plastic Fantastic

Protagonist: Chris Dickson (New Zealand Challenge)
Designer: Bruce Farr
Key innovation: Fibreglass
Antagonist: Dennis Conner (Stars & Stripes)

1988 - Big boat

Protagonist: David Barnes (New Zealand Challenge)
Designer: Bruce Farr
Key innovation: It was big - very, very big
Antagonist: Dennis Conner (Stars & Stripes)

1992 - NZL 20

Protagonist: Rod Davis (New Zealand Challenge)
Designer: Bruce Farr
Key innovation: Outrigger on bowsprit, steered by flaps on the keel, tandem keel with a nine ton lead bulb between.
Antagonist: Paul Cayard (Il Moro De Venezia)

1995 - Black Magic

Protagonist: Russell Coutts (Team New Zealand)
Designer: Doug Peterson & Laurie Davidson
Key innovation: Red socks
Antagonist: Dennis Conner (Young America (Stars & Stripes merged with PACT 95 syndicate)

2000 - NZL 60

Protagonist: Russell Coutts (Team New Zealand)
Designer: Laurie Davidson & Clay Oliver
Key innovation: Kink-bow & Millennium mast
Antagonist: None (Friendly rivalry against Luna Rossa Challenge)

2003 - NZL 82

Protagonist: Dean Barker & Bertrand Pace (Team New Zealand)
Designer: Mike Drummond, Clay Oliver & Tom Schnackenberg
Key innovation: Hull appendage & keel bulb
Antagonist: Russell Coutts (Alinghi)

2007 - NZL 92

Protagonist: Dean Barker (Emirates Team New Zealand)
Designer: Mike Drummond, Clay Oliver & Tom Schnackenberg
Key innovation: Buzzy bee bulb
Antagonist: Brad Butterworth (Alinghi)

2013 - Aotearoa

Protagonist: Dean Barker (Emirates Team New Zealand)
Designer: Nick Holroyd
Key innovation: Foiling upwind
Antagonist: Jimmy Spithill (Oracle Team USA)

2017 - AC50

Protagonist: Glenn Ashby (Emirates Team New Zealand)
Designer: Dan Bernasconi
Key innovation: Cyclors
Antagonist: Jimmy Spithill (Oracle Team USA)

2021 - Foiling monohulls

Designer: Dan Bernasconi

So that is my 172nd blog of the year 2017 (MMXVII) & my 92nd this year (And it is only 22 days to go until Christmas).