Like the Louis Vuitton Cup has changed the sport

       It was in the early 1980s, when the French made browser Bruno had trouble find the idea of ??having a sponsor for the qualifying series for the America's Cup, the largest sailing regatta. Until then, the teams have been organized - and paid for - even a number of selection of the America's Cup.

"The concept is that we, the challenger of the bill for the organization of qualification regatta were tired," Trouble said. "It occurred to me that instead of money for the selection process, we need to find a partner. Thats how it all started."

Problem facing the French-based, internationally renowned luxury goods company Louis Vuitton, founded in 1854, just three years after the start of the America's Cup in 1851.

"I had a meeting with the skippers (tough teams), and I called Henry Racamier, President of Louis Vuitton," Trouble said. "There has been a call and he told me, 'OK, I'm in." The first Louis Vuitton Cup to determine which of the challengers before the Defender of the America's Cup was held in 1983. This first race was a turning point in the history of the Cup of America, as an Australian team led by John Bertrand ripped Cup New York Yacht Club skipper and strip ends 132 years of America.

This year marks the 30th Anniversary - and eighth race - the Louis Vuitton-series. Qualification runs round robin begins Sunday and lasts until the beginning of the semi-finals on 6 August with the final runs of 17 to 30 August.

"The first Vuitton Cup was a big deal," Trouble said. "We had a lot of coverage for them."

Defender welcomes go September issue despite the small number of challengers vying this year for a chance to Oracle Team USA, which should be running an unprecedented coverage of the race for the national networks of NBC. He also said that this year's competition still further tradition of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

"We have been involved fond memories of the great personalities in the Cup," Trouble said. "All these great personalities are a central element in the legend of the America 's Cup."

The great personalities of this year include Oracle founder Larry Ellison, whose team won the Cup in 2010 in Valencia, Spain, Sweden Torbj?rn T?rnqvist magnate Artemis Racing, sailing legend Grant Dalton and Emirates Team New Zealand Patrizio Bertelli, the Italian entrepreneur and head of the fashion house Prada, whose team Luna Rossa.

Bertrand, another great personality - and Australia, the longest winning streak in sports for America in the waters off Newport, RI, ended in 1983 - recalled that the first series was a Louis Vuitton "intense battle (s) has allows us to increase our level of performance. Above all, we need this new trophy to win the honor of a race against the defender and operation of adventure. "

Bertrand and his team aboard Australia II won 48 of the 54 qualifying races and beat the British Trade Union Victory 83 4 runs of 1 Final against defending freedom of the legendary American sailor skipper Dennis Conner.

Bertrand said the fight against Conner .. "The first team, win four would heated to start with the oldest trophy in the world, we were there 1-3 and could not afford, more error Nevertheless we missed our departure and we took several lengths behind the Americans - he could not saw be worse, but we were ready for war, and we appealed to force back 2-3 and 3-3 matches "..

26th September 1983 Bertrand won a victory that was celebrated in Australia for months and complained for four years in America (until Conner won the trophy in 1987).

Conner said that the Louis Vuitton Cup, always providing a good preparation for the race of the America's Cup and win the Cup back from Australia was one of the greatest moments of his life.

"We were welcomed back as heroes in the United States," Conner said. "We were honored with a parade in New York and a reception at the White House."

San Francisco skipper Paul Cayard, now CEO of Artemis Racing, won the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup in 1992 as helmsman of the Italian team, Il Moro di Venezia, against Team New Zealand.

"I think the first Italian victory in the Louis Vuitton Cup, as well as the first European boat to race for America's Cup final since the English in 1851 made a strong impression," Cayard said. "It is a short time some Italian friends of mine told me that I was famous in his country."

Disorder, which was involved in the Louis Vuitton series from the beginning, came to San Francisco last week for the start of the race.

He marveled at the Louis Vuitton Cup: "When I had the idea, I never dreamed it would become so big."