These photos are from the 1991 Admiral's Cup series, which suffered somewhat from a drop in entries with just eight teams competing. It was notable however for the win by the well-organised French team, their first victory after many attempts, and was achieved by excellent sailing during the Fastnet race finale where the Corum-sponsored team came back from fourth after the preceding five races to win the series.
Action soon after one of the starts in the 1991 Admiral's Cup (left to right: Container, Will, Corum Diamante, Rubin, Mandrakeand Bravura)
Unibank and Larougein close company at a gybe mark in the 1991 Admiral's Cup (photo Guy Gurney)
Corum Saphir, the French 50 footer which was the top 50 footer in the series and spearheaded France's first Admiral's Cup victory
Wings of Oracle, the Farr designed Two Tonner, sixth overall and sailing for the fourth placed British team
Irving Loube's Farr designed Bravura - top Two Tonner in the series and part of the third placed US team (photo shockwave40blogspot)
Corum Rubis, third overall in the Two Tonner division
Bimblegumbie (ex-Juno IV) - part of the last-placed Australian team and seventh overall in the Two Tonner division
Cyclone - the last-placed Australian 50 footer
Bravura seen here to windward of Wings of Oracle and Unibank from Denmark
Japan's 50 footer Will(2nd overall) chases the British yacht Juno V(5th)downwind
The Australian One Tonner Shardana II rounds a windward mark (seventh overall)
Cyclone gybes ahead of Denmark's Tuborg and Germany's Container
Bravura chasing Wings of Oracle downwind
Shardana II
Bimblegumbie follows Bravura and Corum Diamante
Wings of Oracle to leeward of Italy's Mandrake and Britain's Juno V
The Dubois-designed One Tonner Port Pendennis, second of the One Tonners behind Italy's Brava
A further set of images can be seen here, and a video of the 1991 Admiral's Cup is below:
This post features a classic photo of the French yacht Corum Rubis, which was the Two Ton yacht of the French team which won the 1991 Admiral's Cup. Corum Rubis is seen here racing in the 1991 Two Ton Cup in boisterous conditions in Kiel. Corum was a principal sponsor of the French team for the 1991 and 1993 Admiral's Cup, and all three team yachts (which included the 50 footer Corum Saphir and the smaller One Tonner Corum Diamante) were turned out in immaculate matching livery, and this was complemented by highly cohesive team work.
Patchy boatspeed was offset by
excellent navigation, and in the light airs Fastnet race finale the
French Corum team mounted one of the best ambushes ever seen in offshore sailing, coming from fourth to take overall victory by just
0.62 of a point from the Italian team. To add to the spoils, Corum Saphir rounded out as top yacht of the series.
Corum Saphir approaches a top mark during the 1993 Admiral's Cup
Above and below: Corum Saphir during the 1993 series (photos by shockwave40 blog)
The team sought to defend their victory in the 1993 edition, but were not as successful and finished in third place overall.
