B441 America’s Cup Winners
   In 1851, Great Britain sponsored the first really big international trade show, the giant "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations." It was especially famous for its enormous exhibition hall, which was the first building to have a cast iron skeleton completely covered with large panes of glass. This led to the show’s popular nickname, "The Great Crystal Palace Exhibition."
   The supporting events included the first international sailboat race, which the British were sure they would easily win. In one of the great sports upsets of all time, the highly coveted silver cup was won by the New York Yacht Club’s schooner, America. The crew donated the trophy to the yacht club, to be held as a "challenge trophy." The America’s Cup was born. The race was named after the first winning boat, not the country. It is the longest-running sports event in history.
   America’s Cup is the most prestigious regatta and match race in the sport of sailing. The New York Yacht Club successfully defended the trophy until 1987. The last 30 years have seen enormous international competition for the coveted cup. This poster shows all the winners. It even includes the winner of the recent 2013 race.

STATUS: Complete, except for specifications on the latest two winners. Plans call for it to be published in 2015, along with the other titles in the new Maritime Heritage series.