The Hundred Guinean Jar with New York in the back. Photo: Rob Tringali / ACWSNY

The mythical Jar de las 100 Guineas has returned to New York Yacht Club, an institution that saw her born after almost a century of absence, having kept her pampered in her stained glass for 50 years. Throughout this time, East American Coast Club defenders were winning in a consecutive way the one that is considered the oldest sports trophy in history: The American Cup.

The New York Yacht Club was the creator of this trophy, although the first edition was not played in American waters, if not British. It was for the first time Great Exhibitionwhat we know today as Universal Exhibitionin 1851.

There was organized a sailing competition that consisted of turning around the Wight Island, the prize was a silver avalanil valued in 100 gold guineas. The winning ship would take the prize.

The newly founded New York Yacht Club sent a coup to compete with the British Royal Navy. The New Yorkino ship was baptized as America, and there he faced fourteen British ships, to which he won, and with it the Jarra of the One hundred Guinean, which took to New York. There the Commodore John Cox Stevens, promoter of the America, decided that the trophy, although owned by the New York Yacht Club, could be for the remains of the story at stake between a Defender (the winner) and a Challenger (challenging) and this has been happening since 1870. A founding document, called Reed of Gift, which is why they govern the rules of the American Cup, in which although the Defensor on turn has it in trust the years between defense and defense.

For 50 years the New York Yacht Club, from 1870 to 1920, had it in its wineries with victories of its ships, the first 13 challenges were in its waters, until in 1930 the competition moved to Newport, in the neighbouring state of Rhode Island. From there they won other American challenges and took her to the west coast, San Diego. Until in 1983 for the first time the American Cup was won by a non-American team after 132 years of history when the Australia II I was taking the trophy.

A few weeks ago the spirit of Copa América returned to New York, although it was only for a few days, in which the six ships registered in this year's edition, to defend Team Oracle and the challenging Emirates Team New Zealand, Land Rover BAR, Softbank Japan, Artemis Racing and Groupama Team France; they recovered a part of the story to sail in front of the Statue of Freedom in America's Cup World Series (World Series), prior to what will be the 35 Cup America in June of next year Bermuda.

Text: Jaume Soler