As 50-odd spectator boats rocked in the mildly choppy seas off Newport's Brenton Reef Lightship one morning last week, four sleek twelve-meters began the first of a series of races. Eight weeks from now, the winner will be named to defend the America's Cup against British challenger Sceptre (TIME, July 7).
Three of the four yachts were newly born, built especially for this event. Each was the product of minute designing and craftsmanship. The favorite: white-hulled Columbia, created by Olin Stephens, yachting's most successful designer in the last 20 years. Columbia was skippered by dashing Car and Yacht Racer Briggs Cunningham (TIME...
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