For the 1958 America’s Cup Trophy, the contestants and the America’s Cup Organising Committee agreed that it was time to move on from the pre-war era of the “J” Boats. A lighter, more maneuverable design, it was argued, would allow for closer, more exciting racing. The very popular 12 Metre Class, possibly the most successful race boats ever designed were selected.
This decision ushered in a whole new era in the history of the America’s Cup; and other countries, France, Sweden, Italy, Canada and notably Australia joined Britain in the quest to wrest the Cup from the New York Yacht Club: and the competition lived up to its expectations.
12 Metre boats are so called NOT because of their overall length, but because they must conform to a formula. The formula takes the form of an equation and takes into consideration various measurements of the boat; and the result of this equation must not exceed 12. In fact, a 12 Metre boat is about seventy feet long, the masts are eighty-six feet high, and they weigh about thirty-five tons.
