The British had hoped to have an edge by sailing 12-meter sailboats, which were raced actively in Britain, but not in the U.S.

    However, designer Olin Stephens was no stranger to the class, having designed what was arguably the fastest 12-meter in the world, Vim. His Columbia proved even faster in the summer trials, and in four races never trailed Hugh Goodson's Sceptre.

    Australian media magnate Sir Frank Packer was the first challenger from south of the equator. His sailboat Gretel, designed by Alan Payne, is generally regarded the faster sailboat, but managed only a single victory, the second race of the best-of-seven series.

    Weatherly, designed by Philip Rhodes, won on clever tactics by skipper Emil "Bus" Mosbacher and crew. But this was just the beginning of the flurry of fierce challenges from "Down Under" that ultimately unseated the Cup from its pedestal in the NYYC.

    The British were back in 1964, but the David Boyd-designed Sovereign was completely out-classed by Constellation, which was designed by Olin Stephens and skippered by Bob Bavier.

    The closest Sovereign came was in the first race, losing by five and half minutes.

    Considered by many to be the greatest 12-meter ever built, the Olin Stephens-designed Intrepid took on Australia's Dame Pattie.

    With the exception of a brief moment in the second race, however, the determined crew from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron could only watch Intrepid's stern as Bus Mosbacher sailed her to his second successful Cup defense.

    The beginning of the multiple challenges (Greece and Great Britain dropped out), and Australian newspaper magnate Frank Packer had to dispose of Baron Marcel Bich of France before engaging the previous winner, Intrepid.

    Gretel II, a new design from Alan Payne, was the most competitive challenger yet, but good crew work aboard Intrepid and winning a controversial protest in the second race ensured yet another American victory.

    Packer did not go quietly, however, and his accusations of cheating against the NYYC—the door to Intrepid's head had been removed, fairings were installed near Intrepid's rudder, and Gretel II's disqualification in Race 2 -- errupted in a war of words that initiated correspondence between the Australian consulate and the U.S. State Department.

    Nonetheless, finishing first in two races on the water made the Aussies more determined than ever to continue in their pursuit of the America's Cup.

    The transition from wooden to aluminum hulls and the first time an organized challenger elimination series was conducted.

    France’s Baron Bich was back with France I, but the French boat was no match for Southern Cross, designed by Bob Miller (who later made history under the name Ben Lexcen).

    The match itself was anti-climactical after the hottly contested defender trials between two-time winner Intrepid and Olin Stephen’s new aluminum-hulled Courageous, which quickly dispatched Alan Bond’s Southern Cross in four straight races.

    The refitted Intrepid, sailed by a West Coast syndicate headed by San Diego’s Gerry Driscoll, came within one race of becoming a three-time defender.