''USA 76'' is an American

International America's Cup Class The International Americas Cup Class is a class of racing yacht that was developed for the America's Cup between 1992 and 2007. These yachts, while not identical, were all designed to the same formula to offer designers the freedom to experiment ...

yacht. It, and USA 71, were used by the Oracle BMW Racing team in their preparations to challenge for the

2003 America's Cup The 31st America's Cup was contested between the holder, Team New Zealand, and the winner of the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup, Alinghi. Build Up The 2002–2003 Louis Vuitton Cup, held in the Hauraki Gulf in Auckland, New Zealand saw nine teams from ...

held in

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

, New Zealand. Both boats were designed by

Bruce Farr Bruce Kenneth Farr (born 1949 in Auckland) is a New Zealand designer of racing and cruising yachts. Farrdesigned boats have won, challenged for, or placed highly in the Whitbread Round the World Race, America's Cup, and Sydney to Hobart Yacht R ...

. USA 76 was skippered by

Peter Holmberg Peter William Holmberg (born October 4, 1960) is a sailor from the U.S. Virgin Islands, who won a silver medal in Men's Finn class at the 1988 Summer Olympics The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () ...

through the

2003 Louis Vuitton Cup The 6th Louis Vuitton Cup was held in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2003. The winner, Alinghi, went on to challenge for and win the 2003 America's Cup. Teams The Yacht Club Punta Ala was the challenger of record. Alinghi Founded by Swiss business ...

, including the final against the formidable Team

Alinghi Alinghi, or Alinghi Red Bull Racing because of the sports marketing branding by Red Bull, is the syndicate set up by Ernesto Bertarelli, racing under the colors of the Société Nautique de Genève, to challenge for the America's Cup, as well ...

from Switzerland, who won, and went on to take the America's Cup from after an impressive performance. In September 2003, Oracle BMW Racing arranged for a "rematch" to be held against Alinghi in San Francisco. Both pro and owner driver series' scheduled, it was an opportunity to showcase America's Cup sailing on the Bay, and allow the Golden Gate Yacht Club representatives a chance to regain pride after their defeat in Auckland. Again, the competition was tough, especially in the windy confines of San Francisco's city front. The team and ''USA 76'' won both events. ''USA 76'' is now berthed at Pier 39, and has been in charter operation since June 2011.

References

International America's Cup Class yachts Individual sailing vessels America's Cup challengers 2000s sailing yachts Louis Vuitton Cup yachts Oracle Team USA {{yachtracing-stub

See also

References