On August 22, 1851, the U.S.-built schooner America beat a fleet of Britain's fin
est ships in a race around England's Isle of Wight. The ornate silver trophy won by the America was later donated to the New York Yacht Club on condition that it be forever placed in international competition. Today, the "America's Cup" is the world's oldest continually contested sporting trophy and represents the pinnacle of international sailing yacht competition.
From 1870 until the late 20th century, New York Yacht Club-sponsored U.S. yachts successfully defended the America's Cup 24 times in races generally spaced a few years apart. Since the 1920s, the America's Cup race has been between one defending vessel and one challenging vessel, both of which are determined by separate elimination trials. In 1983, the United States lost the trophy for the first time in 132 years when Australia II defeated Liberty off Newport, Rhode Island.
I was surprised to learn that the first African participant in the America's C
up was a yacht from South Africa called Shosholoza, which is the Zulu word meaning "to move forward". You can learn much more from the official website of Team Shosholoza.There are some remarkable crew members on Team Shosholoza including Marcello Burricks (South Africa), Solomon Dipeere (South Africa), Moctar Falls (Senegal), Joe Heywood (Zimbabwe), Golden Mgedeza (South Africa) and Ashton Sampson (South Africa).
Villagers, I must tell you a secret ... I've never been on a yacht before. Have you?
