Home

---

The original article is taken from www.boatinternational.com

Paving the way for the high-performance multihull America’s Cup yachts that are redefining the competition is Stars & Stripes – the catamaran. The first America’s Cup multihull yacht, the US team’s Stars & Stripes came to be by a cunning interpretation of the Deed of Gift, which only stipulated the challenging yachts be single masted and no more than 90 feet LWL. The result was anything but a true match race, with the much faster, wing-masted multihull Stars & Stripes winning the Cup in 1988.

*Where are the America’s Cup multihull yachts Stars & Stripes now? *

Two versions of the multihull Stars & Stripes were built, a soft sail (S1) and a wing-masted yacht (H3). Stars & Stripes (S1) was acquired by American entrepreneur Steve Fossett and used to set speed records around the world.

“When campaigned by Fossett, Stars and Stripes was the fastest inshore and lake sailboat in the United States. It held records for the Chicago – Mackinac Race (18 hours, 50 minutes, 32 seconds), Newport – Ensenada Race (6 hours, 46 minutes, 40 seconds), Swiftsure (14 hours, 35 minutes, 29 seconds).” – Morelli and Melvin

In October 2017, Paul Keever of Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages purchased her and she will be used starting in February 2018 for private charters, team building, racing clinics, adventure day sails and sunset sails if requested.

Stars & Stripes (H3) is said to be owned by a hotel in Mexico and used as an attraction.