America's Cup . . . the beginning.
Competing in The Royal Yacht Squadron's 1851 Hundred Guinea Cup race, the yacht America takes the lead. America sails away from the NAB lightship, the eastern mark of the course around the Isle of Wight. The four leading yachts followed the local custom of "keeping the NAB to starboard" or sailing outside the lightship before making their turn. But the rules were not specific as to which side of the NAB to make the turn. Captain Dick Brown brought America about with the lightship to port, thus saving two miles and seizing the lead. The yachts following her did likewise, and the leaders became the followers. America won the race by 18 minutes. The Hundred Guinea Cup came to the United States, later to be known as America's Cup. The 53-mile race course around the Isle of Wight is shown on the map.