17 12-Metres competed in the 2009 12 Metre Worlds, started by the NYYC's Race Committee aboard America. This day, Saturday, September 26^th, was the 26^th Anniversary of the NYYC's loss of the America's Cup in 1983. In the America's Cup, the 12 Metres reigned supreme from 1958-1987.  Michael Levitt photos.

Two who played key roles in 1983: Tom Whidden, foreground, tactician on Liberty, and Halsey Herreshoff, navigator. Dennis Conner's Liberty lost the Cup that year to John Bertrand's Australia II. Since then, the Cup traveled to Western Australia, San Diego, New Zealand and Valencia, Spain.

Victory 83 against the background of Fort Adams.

 Intrepid, in the foreground, was a two-time defender of the America's Cup: 1967 and 1970.

 The Candy Store Cup: L-R, Courageous (26), Freedom (30), Kiwi Magic and White on White. Courageous defended the America's Cup in 1974 and 77 and Freedom in 1980.

  Ken and Kathy Read enjoy the racing.

 Terry Kohler, left, and former NYYC Commodore Dyer Jones aboard Carol O'Malley's Opus.