MainSail is CNN’s monthly sailing show, exploring the sport of sailing, luxury travel and the latest in design and technology.
Story highlights
For more than 160 years, the America's cup has been at the forefront of yacht design
From Scotland's traditional boats to modern 'winged' yachts, CNN looks at highlights
Includes Australia's controversial keel, which saw U.S. lose Cup for first time
British sailor Andrew Simpson's death while training in May has raised safety questions
On a misty afternoon in 1851, Britain’s Queen Victoria watched a wooden schooner – named “America” – win what would later become one of the most famous boat races in the world. She asked one of her attendants who had come second. The answer? “Your majesty, there is no second.”
His words set the tone for what we now know as the America’s Cup – a prestigious, fierce, and controversial race which has just one winner and no runners-up.
Since its launch 162 years ago, the competition – which kicked off in San Francisco last month – has been at the forefront of yacht design, encouraging the best sailing clubs in the world to invest big in their seafaring weapons of choice.
From Scotland’s elegant Fife yachts, to Australia’s controversial keel, and today’s space-age ‘flying’ boats, CNN takes a look at the most revolutionary designs and memorable moments of the world’s oldest trophy in international sport.