The 1995

Citizen Cup The Citizen Cup is a trophy which was awarded to the winner of a regatta held in 1992 and again in 1995 to decide on a defender of the America's Cup. History The America's Cup Match is always raced between two yachts from different countries. Thi ...

was the defender selection series regatta for the 1995 America's Cup, held in the United States. Three defense syndicates (featuring four IACC yachts) competed over four round robins and a semi-finals series in order earn a berth in the Citizen Cup finals; the winner earned the right to defend the America's Cup against the winner of the

Louis Vuitton Cup The Louis Vuitton Cup was the name of the Challenger Selection Series sailing competition from 1983, named after its sponsor, Louis Vuitton. The winner of the competition became the challenger to compete with the defender of the America's Cu ...

(challenger selection series regatta). The 1995 Citizen Cup featured the first all female crew aboard ''Mighty Mary'' of the America³ Foundation syndicate, defender of both the Citizen Cup and America's Cup.

Teams

America³

Bill Koch's 1995 entry was an all women's program. When it was first announced in March 1994 the team attracted over 600 applicants. The team sailed the 1992 boat ''America³'' (USA–23) before the arrival of ''Mighty Mary'' (USA–43) in time for the fourth round robin. Tactician Dave Dellenbaugh joined the crew for the final round robin.

Dawn Riley Dawn Riley (born July 21, 1964) is an American sailor, and a pioneer in the sport of sailboat racing. She is in the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the international America's Cup Hall of Fame. The youngest and only female to be a 'dual-famer ...

was captain of the team which included J. J. Isler and

Leslie Egnot Leslie Jean Egnot (born 28 February 1963 in Greenville, South Carolina) is an American-born yachtswoman who competed for New Zealand at two Olympic Games and won a silver medal, with Jan Shearer, at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spai ...

Team Dennis Conner

Team Dennis Conner ''Stars & Stripes'' (''Team Dennis Conner'') is the name of an America's Cup syndicate operated by Dennis Conner and its racing yachts. The name "Stars & Stripes" refers to the nickname often used for the flag of the United States. TDC was regis ...

sailed ''Stars & Stripes'' (USA–34) during the challenger series, which many judges considered to be the slowest of the three 1995 defenders. During the semi-finals USA–34 began taking on water and the crew put on life jackets as they feared the boat might sink. However the team sailed well and won the Citizen Cup and the right to defend the America's Cup.

Dennis Conner Dennis Walter Conner (born September 16, 1942) is an American yachtsman. He is noted for winning a bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics, two Star World Championships, and three wins in the America's Cup. Sailing career Conner was born September ...

led a team that included helmsman

Paul Cayard Paul Pierre Cayard (born May 19, 1959) is an American yachtsman and professional sailor. He has competed at multiple world championship level sailing events, including the America's Cup, the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Volvo Ocean Rac ...

PACT 95

PACT 95 was based in

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

, founded by

Kevin Mahaney Kevin P. Mahaney (born March 31, 1962, in Bangor, Maine) is an American commercial real estate developer as well as a former competitive sailor who won a silver medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics, 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Education Mahane ...

and managed by

John Marshall John Marshall (September 24, 1755July 6, 1835) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the fourth Chief Justice of the United States from 1801 until his death in 1835. He remains the longest-serving chief justice and fourth-longes ...

. The team developed ''Young America'' (USA–36) which, despite being badly damaged twice, finished the Citizen Cup with the best record of 24-12. However they lost to Team Dennis Conner in the final. ''Young America'' was used by Team Dennis Conner as they unsuccessfully attempted to defend the America's Cup. The crew included Mahaney, Robert Hopkins,

John Kostecki John Paul Kostecki (born July 7, 1964) is an American competitive sailor of Polish descent. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started his sailing career in the San Francisco Bay, California. Events World Championships Kostecki won a n ...

, Matt Welling,

Andreas Josenhans Andreas Josenhans (born 12 September 1950) is a German-born Canadian sailor who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics. Career He was a member of the youngest of the Olympic sailing crews at the Montreal 1976 Olympics, with fellow sailors Glen Dex ...

and

Ken Read Kenneth John Read (born November 6, 1955) is one of the most respected sport leaders in Canada. This World Cup alpine ski racer from Canada was a specialist in the downhill and a two-time Olympian. He won five World Cup races during his ten-yea ...

Round robin

One point was awarded for a win in Round Robin one, two for RR2, four for RR3 and 7 for a win in RR4. ''Young America'' took two bonus points into the semifinals and ''Stars & Stripes'' took one bonus point.

Semi-finals

After a compromise was reached by the three syndicates, all three advanced into the finals. ''Young America'' took two bonus points into the final and ''Mighty Mary'' took one bonus point.

Finals

''Stars & Stripes'' overcame a large deficit to ''Mighty Mary'' to win the Citizen Cup. Judging that the yacht '' Young America'' was the fastest of the regatta, however, the

syndicate petitioned and was granted the right to sail ''Young America'' in place of ''Stars & Stripes'' in an unsuccessful attempt to defend the succeeding 1995 America's Cup against New Zealand's ''Black Magic''.

References

External links

America's Cup
Official Website for the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia
CupInfo.com
America's Cup News and Information for 2007 {{America'sCup Citizen Cup

Sailing competitions in the United States