Michael Fay's America's Cup Boat: A Name To Remember

New Zealand banker Sir Michael Fay is known for his involvement in the America's Cup yacht race. In 1988, Fay issued a challenge to the San Diego Yacht Club, which had just won the America's Cup. He proposed a race between a 90-foot racing yacht and the club's 12-metre class yachts. Fay financed the creation of KZ 1, a large single-hull yacht that complied with the original Deed of Gift but was much larger and faster than the 12-metre class boats that had been used for America's Cup competition for many years. The New Zealand challenger, KZ-1, was regarded as the fastest monohull at that time for its size. The 1988 America's Cup was the first hostile Deed of Gift challenge and put an end to the 12-metre era of yachts.

Michael Fay's 1988 challenge to the San Diego Yacht Club

In 1988, New Zealand banker Sir Michael Fay challenged the San Diego Yacht Club, which had just won the America's Cup. Typically, challengers would wait three to four years and join a general international challenge, but Fay decided to take a different approach. He had his legal team review the original Deed of Gift—a document drawn up by the owners of the 100 Guineas Cup, which was won by the yacht America, to offer the cup for international competition. Fay's challenge stipulated that the boats to be sailed would be defined only by the details of the Deed: single-masted yachts no more than 90 feet (27 m) at the waterline. He proposed to bring a 90-foot racing yacht for his challenge boat, the KZ 1.

The San Diego Yacht Club, which had been running the Cup regatta in 12-metre class yachts, initially rejected Fay's challenge. Fay then took the matter to the New York State Supreme Court, which declared the challenge valid and instructed the San Diego Yacht Club to meet the challenge on the water. The court's decision left the San Diego Yacht Club with little time to prepare for the 1988 race. They chose to respond with a faster multi-hull design, building two catamarans—one with a conventional soft sail (Stars & Stripes S1) and the other with a Scaled Composites-built wing mast (Stars & Stripes H3). The wing-masted boat demonstrated superior performance and was chosen for the race.

The New Zealand challenger, KZ-1, was a 120-foot (37 m) monohull with a crew of 30 to 40. It was launched in March 1988 and was considered the fastest monohull of its size at the time. Despite the efforts of both teams, the race ended in a two-race sweep for the San Diego Yacht Club and their defender, Stars & Stripes H3. However, the battle didn't end there. After the races, the New Zealand team sued and initially won the America's Cup trophy in court, arguing that the competition between a monohull and a catamaran was a gross mismatch. This decision was later reversed on appeal, and the San Diego Yacht Club retained the cup, defending it again in the 1992 America's Cup.

The Mercury Bay Boating Club of New Zealand

The club offers a range of centreboard and keeler events for its members in summer and winter. There are Learn to Sail programmes for all ages, a good fleet of multi-hulls, and a packed calendar for Keeler racing. The Mercury Bay Boating Club also has a growing Centreboard Fleet and youth mentoring programmes. The training fleet includes Optimists, Microns, Lasers, and Hobie Cats. Twilight races take place from October to March, with numerous weekend coastal and offshore events. The club also supports water activities promoted by the local area school, the surf life-saving association, and the local chapter of Sea Scouts.

In 1988, the Mercury Bay Boating Club became the first New Zealand club to challenge for the America's Cup. Michael Fay, a New Zealand banker and member of the club, issued a Notice of Challenge to the San Diego Yacht Club, the then-holder of the America's Cup. Fay's challenge was based on a strict reading of the Deed of Gift, which stated that the boats to be sailed would be single-masted yachts no longer than 90 feet (27 m) at the waterline. He proposed to bring a 90-foot racing yacht for the challenge.

The Mercury Bay Boating Club's entry into the America's Cup was met with controversy. The San Diego Yacht Club initially rejected Fay's challenge, as they wanted to continue using 12-metre class yachts. However, the New York State Supreme Court ruled in favour of Fay, and the challenge proceeded. The New Zealand challenger, KZ-1, was a 120-foot (37 m) monohull with a crew of 30 to 40. It was considered the fastest monohull of its size at the time.

Unfortunately, the Mercury Bay Boating Club's challenge was ultimately unsuccessful. The San Diego Yacht Club's Stars & Stripes H3, a multi-hull catamaran, defeated KZ-1 in a two-race sweep. Despite the loss, the Mercury Bay Boating Club made history as the first New Zealand club to challenge for the America's Cup, and their name was engraved on the Auld Mug. Today, the KZ-1 boat resides outside the National Maritime Museum in downtown Auckland, New Zealand.

The KZ-1 yacht

Conceived in a hotel room at the Ritz Carlton, Washington DC, on 12 July 1987, the KZ-1 was designed by Bruce Farr and constructed from carbon fibre and a Kevlar/Nomex sandwich. It was the largest single-masted yacht the rules would allow, with a 90-foot (27.4 m) monohull and a crew of 40.

The yacht was launched on 27 March 1988 before a crowd of 130,000 people at Auckland Harbour. It was the fastest monohull of its size at the time. The design pushed the boundaries of what was possible, with a mast made solely from composite materials and a 21-foot keel attached to a 14-foot beam. The construction took 24 weeks under heavy security.

The KZ-1 was skippered by David Barnes, with a crew of 40 from the Mercury Bay Boating Club in Whitianga, New Zealand. The boat was easily defeated by the San Diego Yacht Club's Stars & Stripes catamaran in the 1988 race. However, the 1988 America's Cup was mired in litigation, with Fay arguing that the race was not a 'friendly competition' as envisaged in the deed of gift. The New York Supreme Court initially agreed and awarded New Zealand the Cup, but this decision was later overturned on appeal.

Fay's induction into the America's Cup Hall of Fame

Sir Humphrey Michael Gerard Fay, a New Zealand merchant banker, played a pivotal role in his nation's America's Cup campaigns. His involvement, leadership, and support were instrumental in New Zealand's remarkable success in the competition. Recognising the potential for innovation, Sir Michael boldly backed New Zealand's inaugural America's Cup campaign in 1987, marking the country's first foray into this prestigious yachting event.

In 1988, Sir Michael made waves once again by issuing a surprise "big boat" challenge. He financed the creation of KZ 1, a large single-hull yacht that complied with the original Deed of Gift but sparked controversy due to its size advantage over the traditional 12-metre class boats. This challenge, though ultimately unsuccessful, exemplified New Zealand's relentless pursuit of victory.

Undeterred, Sir Michael mounted a third campaign in 1992, showcasing his unwavering commitment to the sport and his belief in the potential of New Zealand's sailing prowess. While this campaign fell short in the challengers' finals, it further cemented Sir Michael's legacy in the world of competitive sailing.

Sir Michael's impact extended beyond the boundaries of the America's Cup. He embraced innovation, as evidenced by New Zealand's use of fibreglass in the construction of 12-metre boats and their pioneering practice of utilising identical boats for training purposes. This forward-thinking approach not only elevated New Zealand's sailing programme but also contributed to the overall advancement of the sport.

In recognition of his transformative contributions to the America's Cup and the broader realm of yacht racing, Sir Michael Fay was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 2002. His induction stands as a testament to his visionary leadership, unwavering dedication, and the indomitable spirit he imbued in New Zealand's America's Cup campaigns.

As a member of the Hall of Fame, Sir Michael joins an esteemed company that includes the late Sir Peter Blake, Russell Coutts, and Tom Schnackenberg—a testament to the magnitude of his impact on this iconic sporting event.

The 1987 America's Cup campaign

The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-sixth challenge for the cup and was held in Gage Roads off Fremantle, Western Australia, between October 1986 and February 1987. The Royal Perth Yacht Club was the defending club and the organiser of the series.

The 1987 series was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it was the last time that 12-metre class yachts were used in the America's Cup. Secondly, it was the first time in 132 years that the cup was not defended by the New York Yacht Club. And thirdly, it was the first time that the event was held outside of the control of the NYYC, in a location with strong and variable breezes, which attracted enormous additional interest.

Four syndicates competed to represent the Royal Perth Yacht Club as the defender of the America's Cup. The winner was Kookaburra III of Kevin Parry's Taskforce '87 syndicate, which beat Alan Bond's Australia IV.

Kookaburra III then went on to compete in the best-of-seven finals against the American challenger Stars & Stripes '87, sailed by Dennis Conner. Stars & Stripes '87 swept the series, winning four races in a row and thus regaining the cup for the US.

The 1987 America's Cup was also notable for the involvement of New Zealand banker Michael Fay, who backed New Zealand's first America's Cup campaign. Fay's involvement continued after the 1987 competition, as he challenged the winner, San Diego Yacht Club, in 1988. This challenge was notable for its strict interpretation of the Deed of Gift, the document drawn up by the owners of the original 100 Guineas Cup, which did not specify a time delay between challenges or restrict the size or class of boats used. Fay financed the creation of KZ 1, a large single-hull yacht, which complied with the Deed of Gift but was much larger than the boats that had been used in previous America's Cup competitions. This led to court actions and ultimately a change to better management and agreement for future challenges.

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