The latest installment in the 155-year history of the Canada’s Cup has come to a close, with Vincere of Toronto’s Royal Canadian Yacht Club defeating the defender, Heritage, of the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club of Holland, Michigan, five to three in early September.
Just days earlier, Heritage and skipper Bob Hughes had won the right to defend the cup by defeating Convexity of the Chicago Match Racing Center. Both the defender series and final series were held on southern Lake Michigan aboard Farr 40 one-designs.
Vincere, with Oskar Johansson at the helm, had a one-race lead going into day four of the finals and in the first race of the day advanced its lead to four wins and two losses. Heritage won the second race, but Vincere clinched the best of nine series by choosing the right side of the course for the downwind leg and crossing the finish line 24 seconds ahead of Heritage.
The RCYC plans to defend the cup two years from now on its home waters of northern Lake Ontario. The club’s recent win marks the 10th time a Canadian club has won in the 23-regatta series.
For more on the 2011 Canada’s Cup, including a detailed account of each race in the series, click here.
