Between January and April 1992 New Zealand took on the world for the right to challenge the San Diego Yacht Club for the America's Cup.
Issue information
The Mercury Bay Boating Club's 1992 New Zealand Challenge for the America's Cup was managed by Peter Blake, one of New Zealand's well-known sporting heroes, and included two of this country's most respected yachtsmen, David Barnes and Russell Coutts. The 1992 regatta was the 28th defence of the Cup, the symbol of international yachting supremacy. The America's Cup Challengers and Defender had agreed to compete in an entirely new class of yacht in 1992. The 75 foot high, high-tech International America's Cup Class (IACC) monohulls were longer, lighter, had more sail area and were probably 25 percent faster than the 12 metre yachts used between 1958 and 1987. Because of the combination of lightness, size and sail area, the physical demands on the 17 man crews were greater than they were with the 12 metre yachts.
Product listing for America's Cup 1992 New Zealand Challenge
Click on image to enlarge.
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Single Stamp |
Single 45c 'KZ7 Kiwi Magic' 1987 gummed stamp. In the 1986/87 America's Cup, sailed off Fremantle, 'Kiwi Magic' earned its place in the Challenger Final against Dennis Conner's 'Stars and Stripes' by notching up an impressive record of 37 wins and one loss in the qualifying rounds. |
$0.45 |
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|
Single Stamp |
Single 80 'KZ1 New Zealand' 1988 gummed stamp. In 1988 New Zealand's KZ1, a monohull, competed against the San Diego Yacht Club's 'Stars and Stripes', a catamaran, in a 'best of three' series. 'Stars and Stripes' won the series 2-0. |
$0.80 |
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|
Single Stamp |
Single $1.00 'America' 1851 gummed stamp. In 1851 the United States schooner 'America' embarrassed British naval pride by leading home a Royal Yacht Squadron fleet of 14 boats in a match race around the Isle of Wight. The trophy awarded to 'America' for its resounding victory was thereafter called the 'America's Cup'. |
$1.00 |
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|
Single Stamp |
Single $1.50 'New Zealand 1992 America's Cup Challenge' gummed stamp. Sir Michael Fay rated New Zealand's changes of winning the Cup the best yet. The New Zealand Challenge seemed to capture the imagination of the whole country, as did the first New Zealand America's Cup Challenge in 1987. But 1992 was not the year for New Zealand's win. |
$1.50 |
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First Day Cover | First day cover with stamps affixed. Cancelled on first day of issue. | $4.00 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 22 January 1992 |
|---|---|
| Designer: | Rod Proud, Auckland NZ |
| Printer: | Leigh-Mardon, Australia |
| Stamp size: | 40mm x 28mm |
| Sheet size: | 100 stamps per sheet |
| Process: | Lithography |
| Perforation guage: | 14 x 14.25 |
| Paper type: | Harrison and Sons, red phosphor coated, unwatermarked |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 22 January 1993. |
