Oxnard’s Channel Islands Harbor became the center of the U.S. sailing universe if but for just one weekend. While the highlight of every Summer is our beloved McNish Classic Boat Race, you never know who might show up to participate. This year we got to host “America”, the replica of the yacht that started yacht racing as we know it and “Mr. America’s Cup”, Dennis Conner, who owns and operates the 130 ft schooner.

The original “America” was designed by George Steers and crewed by Captain Richard Brown and 8 skilled sailors who took her across the Atlantic to compete against 15 other boats in the “100 Guinea Cup” on August 22, 1851 at the Solent off the coast of England. She won and thus began the “America’s Cup” yacht racing which continues to this day. Interestingly, “America” was used by both sides of the Civil War. She met her ultimate demise due to neglect in Annapolis harbor in the 1940’s.

Dennis Conner has been the Icon of American yachting for several decades who took a bronze in the 1976 Olympics and successfully defended the America’s Cup in 1974, 1980, 1987 and 1988. But he was also the first American to lose The Cup in 132 years, in 1983 and again in 1995. Today he runs the “Dennis Conner America’s Cup Experience” in association with Next Level Sailing offering outreach programs on both coasts. This historically accurate replica was built in 1967 by a “yachting enthusiast” and Conner’s group purchased her in 2006, adding her to their offering of a variety of sailing programs out of San Diego.

Conner and his beautiful yacht put on quite a show during the race in the Santa Barbara Channel on Saturday. SailTime Member, Randy Bush got some beautiful pics of her sailing

and will be posting more of them on his site.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS