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Stars & Stripes Team USA Launches All-American Cup Challenge

/ CBS Detroit

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Stars & Stripes Team USA has been accepted as a challenger for the 2021 America's Cup, promising to have an all-American squad in a competition where nationality has mattered little in recent decades.

 

American challengers OneWorld lead Stars and Strip
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 28: American challengers OneWorld lead Stars and Stripes as the yachts cross during race three of the quarter finals repechage during the Louis Vuitton Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, Nov. 2002. OneWorld won by one minute and 02 seconds. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

 

The name is a nod to Dennis Conner, who won the America's Cup four times, twice with boats named Stars & Stripes.

 

A saddened Dennis Connor on his yacht Stars and St
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JANUARY 14: A saddened Dennis Connor on his yacht Stars and Stripes waves to the crowd with a tear in his eye after losing to America True in the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour,Friday.DIGITAL IMAGE. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

 

Stars & Stripes Team USA was co-founded by professional sailors Taylor Canfield, one of the world's top match-racing skippers, and Mike Buckley.

 

Extreme Sailing Series 2016
HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 30: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this handout image provided by Red Bull, China One helmsman Taylor Canfield discusses a penalty with the umpires after a race in their GC32 hydro-foiling catamaran during day three of the fourth act of the Extreme Sailing Series, on July 30, 2016 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Dean Treml/Red Bull via Getty Images)

 

The team is backed by the Long Beach Yacht Club, which hosts the prestigious Congressional Cup match-racing regatta. Canfield has won the Congressional Cup four times in the last five years.

 

Team New Zealand syndicate head Peter Bl
Team New Zealand syndicate head Peter Blake(L) and helmsman Russell Coutts(R) hold the America's Cup 15 May at the San Diego Yacht Club. The trophy was formally presented to the team, who defeated Team Stars and Stripes in five straight races. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)

 

Stars & Stripes Team USA becomes the second American challenger and fifth overall accepted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron for the 36th America's Cup.

 

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First published on December 12, 2018 / 10:35 AM EST

© 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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