Stars & Stripes (yacht)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stars & Stripes is the name of a series of racing yachts operated by Dennis Conner to compete in the America's Cup. The name "Stars & Stripes" refers to the nickname often used for the flag of the United States.

1 Catamaran
2 12 metre Yachts
3 Americas Cup Class
4 Others
5 External links

[edit] Catamaran

Due to unrestricted rules in 1988, Conner enlisted the help of designers Chance & Hubbart & MacLane, and aircraft manufacturer Scaled Composites, to fabricate a revolutionary catamaran which dominated over KZ1, the challenger from New Zealand. The New Zealand team sued and won the America's Cup trophy in a court case; however, on appeal, the San Diego Yacht Club won it back.

[edit] 12 metre Yachts

The well funded Sail America Foundation commissioned four 12 metre yachts to support a campaign lead by Dennis Conner, representing the New York Yacht Club, to win back the America's Cup in the 1987 competition in Freemantle, Australia.

Stars and Stripes 83 (US 53) built in 1985 by Geraghty Marine, designed by Chance/Nelson/Pedrick.
Stars and Stripes 85 (US 54) built in 1985 by Robert E. Derektor Inc., designed by Chance/Nelson/Pedrick. Proved to be faster than Stars and Stripes '83.
Stars and Stripes 86 (US 56) built in 1987 by Robert E. Derektor Inc., designed by Chance/Nelson/Pedrick. Designed with a different keel and more sail area.
Stars and Stripes 87 (US 55) built in 1987 by Robert E. Derektor Inc., designed by Chance/Nelson/Pedrick. Designed and built with the experience gained from the first three designs. Stars & Stripes 87 won the trials to select the challenger and went on to defeat the Australian defender Kookaburra III by 4 races to nil in the 1987 America's Cup to win the cup back for the USA.

[edit] Americas Cup Class

Conner's $5 million 2002 entrant, Stars & Stripes USA-77, an International Americas Cup Class yacht, was sunk on July 23, 2002 when a rudder broke during preparations for the 2002–2003 races to select the challenger for the America's Cup. The boat was raised out of 55 feet of water just outside Long Beach Harbor. Conner's luck that year would not improve, as Alinghi and Oracle BMW Racing, two well financed boats, would contest for the spotlight. Conner had a backup and training vessel available, Stars & Stripes USA-66.