Auld Mug to sit in first class
The America’s Cup will reportedly fly first class in a special Louis Vuitton trunk to New Zealand.
The impressive silverware, which stands 1.1m tall and weighs more than 14kg, travels in the purpose-built Vuitton trunk, flanked by two security guards according to Yachting World.
The sailing magazine said security personnel have travelled with the Cup since 1997, when Maori activist Benjamin Nathan walked into the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and took to it with a sledgehammer.
Hayden Porter, general manager of squadron, where the Cup will be displayed, said they would be taking the role of housing “the oldest trophy in international sport” very seriously.
“It goes into a specially built trophy cabinet, which is very secure. It’s a fully alarmed, censored, bullet proof, bomb proof, you name it, cabinet. “It’s the Everest of sailing.” Porter said when Team New Zealand brought the Cup home from San Diego in 1995, it had its own seat on the plane, complete with a special seatbelt to fit around the carry trunk.
Team New Zealand also collected the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs trophy, which was presented for the first time this year.
The 70cm high, 10kg sterling silver trophy depicts a clash of passing sails. It also echoes Louis Vuitton’s famous “V” mark, drafted in the 1930s to sum up the brand’s values of Volez, Voguez, Voyagez — fly, sail, travel.
Although the yacht squadron has not received the official polishing instructions for the Cup yet, staff have been given some tips on how to keep the Louis Vuitton trophy — awarded to the America’s Cup challenger series’ winners — sparkling clean.
“We’re not allowed to use any fluids on it and there is a special cloth provided for the polishing.”