The Turners by the Cup in San Francisco.
The America’s Cup. The most renowned race of all worldwide sailing races since the mid-1800’s, this regatta has taken place in the UK, USA , Australia, New Zealand and Europe. And this year the final races of the America’s Cup were again competed in our country, in San Francisco. We were fortunate to have garnered an invitation from the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) to attend festivities and view the event from a prime location at the start line. The Golden Gate YC is the keeper of the America’s Cup while the USA still has possession of it, as they are the sponsoring club for Oracle Team USA.
While we were enjoying lunch and libations at the GGYC we experienced an unexpected treat. One of the club stewards set up a small table and within a few minutes the America’s Cup trophy was carried into the room and placed on the table by two burly young men wearing white gloves. We were within arm’s length of the actual America’s Cup itself. It is the most gorgeous trophy we have ever seen - majestic, huge, and engraved with the history of all prior races. The excitement of the race aside, the biggest thrill was just being in the same room as the cup. We kept asking ourselves “how many people do we know who have been this close or actually seen the Cup?” And when the Commodore invited us to have our picture taken in front of the trophy that was one of the greatest events of this trip.
But soon it was time to go outside and watch the actual races for that day. Again, we were amazed at the hospitality of this club – we had first row seats in the grandstand at the starting line! The absolute thrill of watching these sailing craft is unparalleled. There was some great coverage of the races each day on TV, but a quite different perspective was gained by actually being there and watching these boats get up on their foils and literally “fly” around the course. What do these guys do for excitement in their spare time?
This trip to the America’s Cup finals was an experience we will recall and savor for many years – and we hope to repeat it the next time our USA team defends the beautiful America’s Cup in our country.
Michael and Eileen are members of Old Point Comfort YC and Hampton YC, both in Hampton, Va. They thank HYC for contacting the GGYC. Eileen is Public Affairs Officer of Old Point Comfort YC.
