A bit of soap opera involving a portion of the America's Cup trophy played out in late 2006.  Following are some of the high points.

America's Cup Fragment For Sale?

A original piece of the famed yachting trophy that was replaced in the process of repairing the damaged Cup in 1997 is now at the center of a brewing controversy. 

New Zealand's Spirit of Adventure Trust wants to auction the sliver of silver, but the current Cup holders, Société Nautique de Genève, dispute both ownership and the Trust's intent to sell off the portion of the Auld Mug. 

For now the piece resides in a vault at London's Garrard, the original maker (and later repairer) of the historic prize.

Selection of stories:
10/13: Boston Globe
10/16: Stuff.co
OneNews NZ
10/18: New Zealand Herald
10/20: Daily Telegraph

and commentary at:
BMW Oracle Racing Blog

Cup Piece to be Returned

The walkabout silver scrap of the damaged trophy will be returned by the Spirit of Adventure Trust, despite the group having received offers for the fragment that Chairman Stephen Fisher calls "substantial".  No word yet on future plans for the small historic refugee from what must surely be one of the more privileged rubbish bins in Britain.  Nor on how to best support the Spirit of Adventure Trust in absence of such a unique piece to auction.

Read more at tvnz.co.nz

Piece Talks Continue

Escaped Silver Saga Not Over

The Spirit of Adventure Trust's recent decision to return the damaged fragment of the America's Cup turns out not to be the end of the story.

It appears that there is a second piece, which also has made it as far as New Zealand, and is allegedly in the hands of a private individual.  Société Nautique de Genève, current holders of the rest of the America's Cup, have now taken legal steps to have it returned.

Read the Reuters Story

New: 
See an exclusive photo of Piece #1 and Piece # 2 at the Challenger Commission  

It is not, as some assumed, a mere sliver, but rather a substantial portion of the original cup.