Syndicate
Head / CEO
Yacht / Name Sail #
YachtClub
America3 Foundation
Bill Koch
America3
USA 23
San Diego Y.C
America3 Foundation
Bill Koch
Mighty Mary
USA 43
San Diego Y.C
Team Dennis Conner
Dennis Conner
Stars & Stripes
USA 34
San Diego Y.C
PACT 95
John Marshall
Young America
USA 36
New York Y.C
The CITIZEN CUP 1995 with the 3-boat final.
The opponents of the Citizen Cup 1995
was an elimination race between three teams, where in 4 round robins, the semifinals and the
final against point count was sailed.
At the beginning, even the America3 USA 23 from 1992 sailed with, but resigned after the RR3.
Reason was that Mighty Mary USA 43 was not ready yet. Denner's USA 34 lost in a race in the
semifinals almost the keel. A rapid repair with the original keel was in protest as irregular modification
rather than a repair,
By a surprising agreement Mighty Mary US 43 sailed again in the final as 3
rd
yacht.
Dennis Conner won on points with USA 34.
But sailed in the America's Cup with Young America USA 36 from PACT 95 . He lost against NZL 32.
was an elimination race between three teams, where in 4 round robins, the semifinals and the
final against point count was sailed.
Yacht / Country : Stars & Stripes /USA
Sail Number : USA - 34
Syndicate : Team Dennis Conner
CEO : Dennis Conner
Yacht Club: San Diego YC
Designer : David R. Pedrick (USA)
Boat Builder :
Skipper: Dennis Conner
“Stars & Stripes” USA-34 : winner of the CITZEN CUP 95
During a race in the Semifinals, the yacht almost
lost its keel with the tons heavy bulb.
During a race in the Semifinals, the yacht almost
lost its keel with the tons heavy bulb. It could be
saved from the support boats with pumps and
swimming bodies before sinking or capsizing. During
racing periods the so-called "no-change period"
becomes valid.i.e. the yachts are allowed to be only
repaired but not modified. The Stars & Strips
mounted her old keel and won the next race. It was
immediately protested and stated that the boat was
not repaired, but adapted to the changed weather
forecast of strong to light winds.
Finally the defenders agreed a compromise that in
the final once again all 3 yachts would sail. One
argument was that Mighty Mary was designed a
light wind yacht. Therefore is now an equal
opportunity for all. All the experts agreed that
Dennis Conner sailed the slowest boat in the Citizen
Cup, if not generally. The LVC challengers were
Yacht / Country: Mighty Mary /USA
Sail Number: USA 43
Syndicate : America 3
CEO : Bill Koch
Yacht Club: San Diego YC
Designers:
Doug Peterson Jim Taylor
George Edmonds (USA) Marvin Duncan (USA)
Fernando Frimm (USA) Rob Scala (USA)
Boat Builder : Eric Goetz Custom Sailboats
Skipper: Dawn Riley
Mighty Mary USA-43, in the final of the Citizen Cup 95
The first 4 rounds of the CC have been sailed with the old USA-23, because the "Mighty Marry" has
been finished just before the Semifinals.
Under the skipper Dawn Riley the crew sailed some victories, even against Conner. When his USA 34
lost almost the keel with the lead bulb in a race in the Semifinals against USA 43 the ladies were of
the view that Conner is out of the race. Even the ladies were surprised by the compromise of a 3
boat final. (For more information see United States-34).
In the final of the CC it became critical to whether Dennis Conner sails a victory or not against
"Mighty Mary". USA-43 led in the last leg with almost 40 boat lengths. But she made the mistake to
sail directly towards the finish line without covering the rivals. As she drove on this course in a wind
hole, Connner, with Paul Cayard at the helm could catch up. He won the Citizen Cup-and thus the
official Defense of the America's Cup.
The "all women crew" was a promotional idea by Bill Koch,
who played after his victory in 1992 a leading role in 1995 again.
The "all women crew" was a promotional idea
by Bill Koch, who played after his victory in
1992 a leading role in 1995 again. The crew
was written out, over 600 applicants
volunteered., 120 of the women have been
tested on board. 30 of them came in the
closest choice. The team selected not only
sport sailors, but also rowers or weight lifters
because the handling of the "coffegrinder" or
the sails is a bone job.
They became a top crew.
AMERICA’S CUP HISTORY 1983 - 2013