The America’s Cup is the oldest international sporting trophy in the World that is still awarded today. The trophy is informally known as the ‘Auld Mug’. The cup was first won by the 101 ft schooner named America from the New York Yacht Club on 22nd August 1851 after competing against 15 yachts from the Royal Yacht Squadron at their club’s annual regatta race around the Isle of Wight, England. The cup was donated to the New York Yacht Club on 8th July 1857 to be held in trust as a challenge trophy for friendly international sailing yacht racing competitions.

The America’s Cup was last held in March 2021 and was won by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Club. The winning club host the next race. Over the last 170 years, the ‘Auld Mug’ has spent most of its time in the United States with 30 wins (New York Yacht Club - 25 wins, San DiegoYacht Club - 3 wins, Golden Gate Yacht Club – 2 wins), New Zealand (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron) four wins, Switzerland (Société Nautique de Genève) has won the Cup twice, and Australia (Royal Perth Yacht Club) has won the Cup once. The contest is held between the defender of the Cup and a challenger. (Since 1970 multiple challenging Yacht Clubs compete to earn the right in elimination races to be become the challenger and sail against the defender in the America’s Cup Match).

Scott Taylor and his fairing team were contracted by Muliplast Composite Yacht Yard in Vannes France, to fair, paint and prep the hull plug and deck moulds for Le Défi Areva, which was the 2003 French challenger for the America's Cup.

Scott Taylors’ team managed to fair the plug within 1 mm accuracy of its designed shape, (with a measured DGA, 0.01mm accuracy). Le Défi Areva team were very pleased with the results.

Read Ben Wright’s Le Défi Areva Testimonial (Muliplast Composite Yacht Yard) here.