[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 141 (Monday, October 18, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12778-S12779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ON THE 1999-2000 AMERICA'S CUP

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, today I call to the attention of my 
colleagues the battle for the America's Cup, which begins this week in 
the Hauraki Gulf off Aukland, New Zealand. Five American and six 
international challengers are competing for the right to face Team New 
Zealand in races beginning next February.
  This competition, which promises to be a long, hard-fought affair, 
gives me an opportunity to share with my fellow Senators some thoughts 
on Rhode Island's celebrated history in yachting. It began in London in 
1851, when the America's Cup was designed and crafted as a trophy for a 
race around the Isle of Wight. The cup was named after the yacht 
America which first won the trophy by beating the British yachts at 
Cowes. Yacht racing had only recently begun in North America at the 
time; John Cox Stevens had founded the New York Yacht Club in 1844 and 
in 1851 was still its first Commodore.
  But yacht racing was not so new in Britain, where forms of yachting 
had been a sport for about 250 years. In the mid-1850's, Britannia 
ruled the waves in all respects, and it would never have occurred to 
them that an American outfit could challenge their yachting dominance.
  In 1857, John Stevens decided that the cup would be better in the 
hands of the New York Yacht Club for safekeeping and for organizing 
challenges. The cup, which graced the halls of the New York Yacht Club, 
became known as the America's Cup and this has continued for 145 years. 
Until 1983, the New York Yacht Club successfully defended the cup in 
races off Newport, Rhode Island, a venue which deservedly has come to 
be considered one of the sailing capitals of the world.
  During these years, a great many Rhode Islanders stood out and earned 
outstanding reputations in this sport. Most notably, Nathanael Greene 
Herreshoff, ``The Wizard of Bristol,'' joined his visually impaired 
brother in the manufacture of boats and went on to design six 
successful America's Cup defenders--Vigilant (in 1893), Defender 
(1895), Columbia (1899 and 1901), Reliance (1903) and Resolute (1920). 
In addition, the celebrated sailmaker and designer Ted Hood had more to 
do with the development of the America's Cup from the 1950's to the 
1970's than any other person. Hood also won the Cup, helming Courageous 
in 1974.
  Today, Hood's shipyard and many others in Rhode Island continue this 
proud tradition in the sailing world and have made the state's 
boatbuilding industry second to none. The east shore of Narragansett 
Bay has 13 boatyards representing some of yachting's most famous 
labels. In the words of one expert, ``people across the world think of 
quality boats when they think of Rhode Island.'' Combined with tourism 
from recreational boating, the state's marine industry generates about 
$1.2 billion annually and employees about 6,000 workers. Rhode Island 
yards built boats for three America's Cup syndicates in 1995 and two 
more this year.

  One of the American challengers is of particular interest to me and 
to my constituents in Rhode Island. Young America, a two-boat syndicate 
put forward by the New York Yacht Club, is one of the strongest 
challengers in these races. The club has stated its intent to bring 
America's Cup back to Newport, Rhode Island if--or should I say 
``when`'--it dethrones Team New Zealand next March. Many, many Rhode 
Islanders eagerly look forward to the return of this great tradition to 
Newport, where it had such an outstanding record of success for one 
hundred and thirty-two years.
  Young America's president, John Marshall, has been long involved with 
world-class sailing. Marshall won a bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics, 
and has been involved with eight America's Cups since 1974. Marshall is 
a former president of and serves on the Board of Directors for North 
Sails, the largest sailmaker in the United States.
  Young America is skippered by Ed Baid, who played a key role in 
winning the 1995 America's Cup as coach, trial

[[Page S12779]]

horse skipper and sparring partner for Team New Zealand. Baird was the 
1995 World Champion of Match Race Sailing and placed second at the 
Worlds in 1997, 1996 and 1993. He is the only American to ever reach 
No. 1 in the World. The 1995 Rolex U.S. Yachtsman of the Year, Baird is 
a multiple world champion.
  Let me also pay tribute to the several Rhode Islanders that have been 
named to the Young America team. They include Newport sailors Ed Adams, 
Tom Burnham, Jamie Gale, Jerry Kirby, Tony Rey and Joan Touchette. The 
shore support and technical team includes Stewart Wiley of Portsmouth; 
Ken Bordin, Steve Connett, Matthew Gurl and Bernie Roeder of Newport; 
Wolfgang Chamberlain of Bristol; and Michael Spiller of Jamestown.
  Young America's two boats were built by Bristol, Rhode Island's Eric 
Goetz shipyard, recognized as one of the world's foremost manufacturers 
of racing sailboats. I had the pleasure of visiting and touring the 
Goetz shipyard last April, and was greatly impressed with what I saw.
  Goetz has built seven America's Cup contenders for the last two 
series of America's Cup races--including boats commissioned by 
competing U.S. racing teams. This year's boats, which cost about $3 
million each, are the product of a first-rate team of technicians and 
employ the most modern design and technology. Included is a keel 
developed by one of Rhode Island's most storied companies, Browne & 
Sharpe Manufacturing. The competitors in New Zealand are no doubt 
fixated on the technological advancements being introduced by Young 
America.
  Three sets of round robin races begin this week and end on December 
14. The challenger semifinals and finals take place next January 2 
through February 4 to determine which syndicate will face the defending 
New Zealanders. The Finals of this grueling competition do not end 
until March 4.
  So I hope all Senators can take a moment today to recognize the 
commencement of one of the world's most prestigious sporting 
traditions, the America's Cup. I wish good luck to all eleven 
competitors, but particularly to the Young America syndicate. For many 
of my state's enthusiasts, it has been a long sixteen years waiting for 
this moment.

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