America's Cup yachts: Then and now

001_800px-The_Yacht_America_Winning_the_International_Race_Fitz_Hugh_Lane_1851.jpeg — Fitz Hugh Lane/Wikimedia Commons

In 1851, the schooner "America," representing the New York Yacht Club, triumphed over the competition in the United Kingdom's Royal Yacht Squadron's 100 Pound Cup. It was a symbolic victory of the new world over the old and the beginning of a 150-year-old racing tradition that continues to this day: the America's cup.

The design of the "America" was considered revolutionary for its time. But the racing yachts of today would be totally unrecognizable to that original crew. Click on to see how the fastest sailboats in the world have evolved over the last 150 years.

1893

The U.S.'s all-metal sloop "Vigilant" beat the British "Valkyrie" in the 1893 America's Cup race.

1893

America's cup race start, Oct. 7, 1893.

1901

Detroit publishing company/Library of Congress

The "Idler" and "Hildegarde," compete in the 1901 America's Cup

1937

Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

The American sailboat "Ranger" and the English boat "Endeavour II" during the regatas of the America's Cup, Aug. 9, 1937.

The American sailboat, on the left, carried out its tacking while the English boat gets ready to turn.

1962

"Gretel" (left), the Australian America's Cup challenger, and the American boat, "Vim" are neck and neck in Gretel's first trial sail in the U.S., in Newport, R.I., 1962.

1992

Okay, so Dennis St. Onge's car-boat wasn't technically a competitor in 1992's America's Cup race near San Diego (and it clearly didn't revolutionize yacht design), but it deserves an honorable mention.

1995

"Black Magic," right, of New Zealand crosses the first mark in front of the U.S.'s "Stars and Stripes" during the America's Cup Series, May 13, 1995.

1995

France 3, left, and Sydney 95 tack upwind in 8-12 knot winds during their America's Cup challenge race off San Diego, Feb. 15, 1995.

2001

Britain's America's Cup boat "The GBR Challenge" in action during the Hoya Round the Island Race, Isle of Wight, June 16, 2001.

2001

"American Eagle," a 12-meter Classic division yacht, during the races at the America's Cup Jubilee in Cowes, Aug. 20, 2001.

2013

Emirates Team New Zealand races against Oracle Team USA in the 19th race of the America's Cup in San Francisco, Sept. 25, 2013.

In recent years, sailboat design has taken a dramatic turn. Oracle's winning team raced in a AC72 catamaran, a 72.2 foot-long wing-sail vessel that can reach speeds of more than 40 knots (46 mph).

2013

Oracle Team USA, left, hits a wave at the start of the 19th race against Emirates Team New Zealand, right, during the America's Cup sailing event in San Francisco, Sept. 25, 2013.

2013

The Oracle AC72 America's Cup catamaran sails on the San Francisco Bay under a blanket of fog, May 28, 2013 as seen from Sausalito, Calif.

2013

Oracle Team USA, left, hits a wave at the start of the 19th race against Emirates Team New Zealand, right, during the America's Cup sailing event, Sept. 25, 2013.