America's Cup History

In 1870, after narrowly beating an American yacht in a race across the Atlantic, James Ashbury, the owner of Cambria, challenged for the America's Cup. The New York Yacht Club forced him to race against its entire fleet which he unsurprisingly lost. Ashbury challenged again in 1871 and was successful in forcing the New York Yacht Club to meet his challenge with one vessel rather than its fleet. However, Ashbury again lost his challenge amongst much controversy and mutual accusations of unsporting behaviour. It would be 14 years before a British challenger would make another attempt.

In the interim, the New York Yacht Club defeated two challenges organised by Alexander Cuthbert, a Canadian boat builder of limited means. Such was the failure of his challenge that the New York Yacht Club amended the Deed of Gift to prevent any further challenges from the Canadian Great Lakes.

British yacht designer J. Beavor-Webb was instrumental in organising two challenges by yachts he designed, Genesta and Galatea in 1885 and 1886, which set a rare high point in America's Cup sportsmanship when Sir Richard Sutton declined to race Genesta when the Defender Puritan was disabled in 1885. Galatea's challenge of 1886 is notable as the first time a woman, William Henn's wife, was on board.

The only challenge to come from Scotland for the America's Cup in Thistle in 1887 was instrumental in the New York Yacht Club again changing the Deed of Gift after finding itself under time pressure to construct a defender capable of meeting a challenger. Thistle was designed by the legendary Scottish designer, G L Watson but was defeated decisively by the Defender, Volunteer.

Lord Dunraven challenged for the America's Cup in 1893 and 1895 in Valkyrie II and Valkyrie III and was equally unsuccessful. His last challenge ended in considerable acrimony after he had imputed the Defender had cheated, but which the New York Yacht Club rejected after a major enquiry. Dunraven's failure to apologise caused him to be expelled as an honorary member of the New York Yacht Club.