August 22, 1851:

The history of the America’s Cup began during the Great Exhibition of London.  A regatta between the British Empire and the United States of America was staged as the 100 Guinea Cup to serve as definitive proof of the British Empire’s technological leadership.

Inaugurated by Queen Victoria, the race was staged around the Isle of Wight. The schooner America defeated 14 yachts from the British Royal Fleet, finishing eight miles ahead.

America was modeled on the state-of-the-art pilot ships of New York Harbor, and astonished people from the moment she arrived in Europe.  Her reversed bow, like a clipper ship, her tin plating, and her sails of vertical layers of cotton, laced to the masts, had never been seen before.

Much to the chagrin of the surprised British, their American cousins won the race and took the cup home to the New York Yacht Club — where it stayed for 132 years!  The Americans won challenge after challenge, until finally, in 1983 the Australia II, owned by rich Australian Alan Bond, defeated the Yanks and took the cup down under to the Royal Perth Yacht Club.

Experience these and other stories in our Brooklyn Bridge walk.  We offer a unique NY tour experience, told with audio narration, hundreds of pictures, video clips, gps-enabled map, trivia quizzes, local recommendations, and much more.  Walk New York with Racontrs in your hand and take a walk through history.