The Boat for the 2000s: The USA 76

At the end of 2001, the build team behind Oracle Racing built a boat that would represent America on the international boat racing platform for over 3 years. Representing America in the 2003 America’s Cup in New Zealand, the USA 76 would ultimately win 21 of its 33 races in the 2003, and also holds the rare distinguished honor of being the only boating team to defeat Switzerland’s SUI 64 twice. In the 2003 finals however, in spite of its expert design, construction, crew and afterguard, the USA 76 would experience heartbreak about losing to Switzerland’s Team Alinghi who would go on to defeat the New Zealand team and win the 2003 trophy.

Even years after its retirement from racing, the USA 76 America’s Cup Boat remains one of the most legendary American boats in recent boating history. More than ten years later, the USA 76 remains one of the most easily recognizable sailing boats in the United States. Still sailed around the San Francisco Bay by ACsailingSF, owned and operated by Brad Webb, then Bowman for Oracle’s America’s Cup challenge and today Brad heads up the shore crew for the 2013 winners of the America’s Cup “Team Oracle USA”.   USA 76 has the drawing power to attract spectators who remember the astonishing reputation of the USA 76.

The legacy of the USA 76 is what led Regatta Gear to proudly offer the first USA 76 branded sailing and yachting gear. Regatta Gear’s commercially available USA 76 Line includes a wide variety of yachting clothing including waterproof gear bags, sailing shirts, cotton polo’s and more. These pieces are designed to perform whether you are wearing them to your next yachting session, or if you are just showing your support for the USA 76 team and their accomplishments.

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