handmade Epi leather travel case by Louis Vuitton. Photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton.Looking for the America’s Cup
The America’s Cup has fallen on hard times. Not only the sport of; but the trophy itself. Irrespective of the ongoing legal drama the “auld mug” was not among the 44 other pieces of “heavy metal” featured in the pages of ESPN's “the magazine” December 31st issue.
There was, of course Lord Stanley’s Cup, the Indy 500’s Borg Warner Trophy, the Heisman and even showing that infamy holds no bounds, the trophy for winning the HGH ravaged Tour de France.
But the trophy representing the world’s oldest continuing sporting event was nary to be found. This after, what was the most exciting America’s Cup finals ever, bar none. The Swiss yacht Alinghi won the final race by one second over Emirates Team New Zealand.
In a stunning series of races that featured several twists, turns and a near catastrophic collision on the final windward beat of the last race, the 2007 America’s Cup ranks a one of the greatest yachting events of all time.
Regardless of all the subsequent court proceedings over the recent months, how could “America's” trophy not find itself in the company of all these other pieces of hallowed metal?
Some of the hardware featured has earned its regality, but others are nothing more sponsorship dollars badged on metal that is thrust upon us like some sort of famed artifact of sporting antiquity. The Nextel, I mean “Sprint” Cup, the Bassmaster Trophy, the MLS Cup, are you serious?
When contacted ESPN Magazine’s News Editor Mark Giles said the America’s Cup’s exclusion was an “art decision”.
“We took all the artwork that looked the best at the time and unfortunately, it wasn’t included”, said Giles. “We went with the news that was fit to print and it was their (the Art Department's) call”.
The America’s Cup has fallen on hard times. Not only the sport of; but the trophy itself. Irrespective of the ongoing legal drama the “auld mug” was not among the 44 other pieces of “heavy metal” featured in the pages of ESPN's “the magazine” December 31st issue.
There was, of course Lord Stanley’s Cup, the Indy 500’s Borg Warner Trophy, the Heisman and even showing that infamy holds no bounds, the trophy for winning the HGH ravaged Tour de France.
But the trophy representing the world’s oldest continuing sporting event was nary to be found. This after, what was the most exciting America’s Cup finals ever, bar none. The Swiss yacht Alinghi won the final race by one second over Emirates Team New Zealand.
In a stunning series of races that featured several twists, turns and a near catastrophic collision on the final windward beat of the last race, the 2007 America’s Cup ranks a one of the greatest yachting events of all time.
Regardless of all the subsequent court proceedings over the recent months, how could “America's” trophy not find itself in the company of all these other pieces of hallowed metal?
Some of the hardware featured has earned its regality, but others are nothing more sponsorship dollars badged on metal that is thrust upon us like some sort of famed artifact of sporting antiquity. The Nextel, I mean “Sprint” Cup, the Bassmaster Trophy, the MLS Cup, are you serious?
When contacted ESPN Magazine’s News Editor Mark Giles said the America’s Cup’s exclusion was an “art decision”.
“We took all the artwork that looked the best at the time and unfortunately, it wasn’t included”, said Giles. “We went with the news that was fit to print and it was their (the Art Department's) call”.
Subject to interpretation, it’s a beautiful trophy and certainly this past year as newsworthy as the others. After all the hours and dollars that ESPN has spent covering the America’s Cup over the years, you would think that it would have earned at least a postage stamp sized picture or a mention on its timeline ticker for 2007.
The America’s Cup trophy was named after the yacht that won a race over several British schooners off the Isle of Wight in 1851. The cup itself is a very ornate hollow silver gilt ewer that has been layered over the years to include recent winners and defenders of yachting most prestigious event.
The trophy’s original dimensions were 27 inches in height, 36 inches around in its circumference and weighed in at 134 ounces. It was originally called the Royal Yacht Squadron Hundred Guineas Cup.
The auld mug itself has lived a storied life. The ‘Cup was forged in Britain in 1848 during the Age of Queen Victoria by the prestigious Garrard Company. Some of the original syndicate members suggested melting down the trophy to create silver medals.
Legend has it that a butler retrieved it from the trash during a move before it finally landed back at the New York Yacht Club’s downtown Manhattan clubhouse for its rightful place in its trophy room. Tiffany’s removed its bottom in the 1880’s so the trophy could be secured in its case. The NYYC lost the America’s Cup in 1983 to the Royal Perth Yacht Club and the trophy has changed hands several times over the last 25 years.
After surviving a severe sledgehammer bashing by an indigenous Maori protestor in New Zealand a decade ago, it was returned to the capable hands of the silversmiths at Garrard’s who repaired the trophy free of charge.
For the last few years the “Auld Mug” has a bit of a glow as it has been parading about Europe and around the world, sometimes like a whore (George Schuyler would turn in his grave if he saw some of the pics), but mostly with its legend intact.
The America’s Cup now resides in Geneva, Switzerland at the Societe’ Nautique de Geneva where it awaits it fate in the New York Court System or possibly next October, in what could be a nautical war of the worlds with monolithic foil shaped trimarans!
The America’s Cup trophy was named after the yacht that won a race over several British schooners off the Isle of Wight in 1851. The cup itself is a very ornate hollow silver gilt ewer that has been layered over the years to include recent winners and defenders of yachting most prestigious event.
The trophy’s original dimensions were 27 inches in height, 36 inches around in its circumference and weighed in at 134 ounces. It was originally called the Royal Yacht Squadron Hundred Guineas Cup.
The auld mug itself has lived a storied life. The ‘Cup was forged in Britain in 1848 during the Age of Queen Victoria by the prestigious Garrard Company. Some of the original syndicate members suggested melting down the trophy to create silver medals.
Legend has it that a butler retrieved it from the trash during a move before it finally landed back at the New York Yacht Club’s downtown Manhattan clubhouse for its rightful place in its trophy room. Tiffany’s removed its bottom in the 1880’s so the trophy could be secured in its case. The NYYC lost the America’s Cup in 1983 to the Royal Perth Yacht Club and the trophy has changed hands several times over the last 25 years.
After surviving a severe sledgehammer bashing by an indigenous Maori protestor in New Zealand a decade ago, it was returned to the capable hands of the silversmiths at Garrard’s who repaired the trophy free of charge.
For the last few years the “Auld Mug” has a bit of a glow as it has been parading about Europe and around the world, sometimes like a whore (George Schuyler would turn in his grave if he saw some of the pics), but mostly with its legend intact.
The America’s Cup now resides in Geneva, Switzerland at the Societe’ Nautique de Geneva where it awaits it fate in the New York Court System or possibly next October, in what could be a nautical war of the worlds with monolithic foil shaped trimarans!
