HR1294 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1294 LRB099 22026 GRL 49242 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to celebrate the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Chicago, June 10-12, 2016, with Lake Michigan serving as the first freshwater venue to host America's Cup racing in the event's 165-year history; and

WHEREAS, The Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Chicago is a qualifying event for the 2017 America's Cup Finals in Bermuda; and

WHEREAS, Navy Pier, celebrating its centennial this year, will serve as event headquarters as the high-performance 45-foot foiling catamarans sail by at over 40 miles per hour close to the shore; and

WHEREAS, This historic event also includes the Endeavour Program, which introduces children to sailing through education and getting out on the water, which, for many of the participating children, will be their first experience with Lake Michigan; and

WHEREAS, The history of the America's Cup is rich in tradition and excellence, distinguishing it from among the great competitions of sport throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, In 1851, a radical looking schooner ghosted out of the afternoon mist and swiftly sailed past the Royal Yacht stationed in the Solent, between the Isle of Wight and the south coast of England, on an afternoon when Queen Victoria was watching a sailing race; and

WHEREAS, As the schooner, named "America", passed the Royal Yacht in first position, and saluted by dipping its ensign three times, Queen Victoria asked one of her attendants who was in second place; "Your Majesty, there is no second", came the reply; and

WHEREAS, That phrase, just four words, is still the best description of the America's Cup and how it represents the singular pursuit of excellence; and

WHEREAS, That day in August of 1851, the yacht "America", representing the young New York Yacht Club, would go on to beat the best that the British could offer and win the Royal Yacht Squadron's 100 Pound Cup; this was more than a simple boat race, as it symbolized a great victory for the New World over the Old, a triumph that unseated Great Britain as the world's undisputed maritime power; and

WHEREAS, The trophy would go to the young republic of the United States and it would be well over 100 years before it was taken away from New York; and

WHEREAS, Shortly after "America" won the 100 Guinea Cup in 1851, New York Yacht Club Commodore John Cox Stevens and the rest of his ownership syndicate sold the celebrated schooner and returned home to New York as heroes; they donated the trophy to the New York Yacht Club under a Deed of Gift, which stated that the trophy was to be "A perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between nations"; thus was born the America's Cup, named after the winning schooner; and

WHEREAS, The America's Cup is without a doubt the most difficult trophy in sport to win; in the more than 150 years since that first race off the English shore, only four nations have won what is often called the "Oldest trophy in international sport"; and

WHEREAS, We wish to thank Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Chicago event chairman, Don Wilson, and director, Tod Reynolds, for bringing this event to Chicago for the first time in its history; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the participants and organizers of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Chicago and celebrate the historic nature of this event for the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Don Wilson and Tod Reynolds as a symbol of our esteem and appreciation.