America’s Cup Inspires Next Generation of Sailors
By C. MacDonald
SAN FRANCISCO–I was at the St. Francis Yacht Club the day Tom Blackaller was enthusiastically celebrated as the skipper of USA, “their” yacht competing for the honor of challenging Australia for the prestigious America’s Cup.
Although the colorful and talented Blackaller would lose to fellow American, Dennis Conner, who went on to defeat the Aussies in 1987, he had a vision for the special place he grew up sailing–San Francisco Bay.
If he had beaten Conner and the Aussies, Blackaller wanted to bring the America’s Cup to San Francisco Bay and race catamarans.
Even though he passed away in 1989 and was not here to see it, the 34th America’s Cup did indeed take place on San Francisco Bay and featured exciting, swift, almost flying catamarans, thanks to Oracle Team USA founder Larry Ellison, who chose both the location and boats as the defender. Read more>
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