Big Boat": KZ - 1 hapless challenger
for the America's Cup 1988
KZ-1 was said to be the fastest monohull of her size at
that time.
The merchant banker Sir Michael Fay tried to
challenge the San Diego Yacht Club
respectively Dennis Conner with this Big Boat
of 135 ft (36,6 m ) - but not exceeding the 90
ft (27,4 m) waterline as stipulated by the
Deed of Gift -
He wanted to sail already in 1988 hoping that
the USA can not arrange an equivalent
“monster” within this short time - and to lose
therefore the Cup on paper.
The club refused the challenge but was finally
forced by the New York Court to accept it.
The deck view explains her another nickname
“aircraft-carrier”.
She had a crew of 40 people, 8 of them
operating the “coffee-grinders” below deck.
Images show that 15 -20 of them were just
sitting on the
windward overhang in order to balance the
yacht’s
heeling.
KZ-1 was said to be the fastest monohull of
her size at that time.
AMERICA’S CUP HISTORY 1983 - 2013
