Unforgettable Cup Moments
Looks back on the greatest moments in America’s Cup history
6
1987 — The summer of Kiwi Magic
No boat captured the nation’s imagination like KZ7, even allowing for the subsequent celebrated wins in 1995 and 2017.
It was New Zealand’s first tilt at the America’s Cup, the start of an obsession, and the country had a rocket ship.
The sense of patriotism ahead of the Fay Richwite-backed challenge had been fuelled by the hit single Sailing Away.
A star-studded ensemble, including Dave Dobbyn, Billy T James, Tim Finn, Annie Crummer, Ray Woolf and Barry Crump, backed by a choir of sporting greats and celebrities, produced a song that spent nine weeks at No 1, the record for a local single until 2009.
Michael Fay had provided the funds, Bruce Farr the revolutionary design and Chris Dickson the brash talent at the helm.
And how she flew. KZ7 won a staggering 33 of 34 races in the round robin phase (the next best was 27 victories) to qualify as top challenger.
The Kiwi crew, which included Brad Butterworth, Tony Rae and Simon Daubney, then swept French Kiss 4-0 to reach the Louis Vuitton final.
That was where the journey ended, but they still arrived home to a heroes’ welcome.
5
2000 — “The America’s Cup is still New Zealand’s Cup”
If winning the Cup is magic, retaining it is damn special, too.
New Zealand became the first nation outside America to defend the Auld Mug, and in some style, seeing off Luna Rossa 5-0 in the Cup finals, in front of a huge flotilla of spectator craft.
It was the climax of a wonderful six months in Auckland, and the impetus for the waterfront development that has continued to this day.
A superbly honed crew and the unequalled sailing skills of Russell Coutts
(skipper) and Brad Butterworth (tactician) got the best out of NZL60. Sir Peter Blake, in his lucky red socks, was syndicate head. So dominant were Team NZ that the event ended — portentously — with Coutts handing the reins to Dean Barker for the fifth race against Prada.
4
2013 — The Oracle comeback
The greatest comeback in America’s Cup history, and one of the best across all sports. Oracle’s recovery from 8-1 down was astonishing.
For Kiwis, it was agonising to watch — not helped by the fact Oracle’s financial resources seemed limitless and they had just one American on their starting crew.