The UBS America’s Cup Jubilee Race solid silver trophy by Theo Fennell, 2001

The UBS America’s Cup Jubilee Race solid silver trophy by Theo Fennell, 2001. This striking trophy is of conical form, featuring three spinnakers on a downwind course, set on a circular ebonized plinth with a silver collar engraved with ‘UBS Jubilee Race Around the Island, First America’s Cup Race – UBS’ and the event logo. It has assay marks for Theo Fennell, London, 2001.

Provenance: Estate of Sir Peter Harrington.

Footnote: The America’s Cup Jubilee Regatta, celebrating 150 years of the America’s Cup Yacht Race, was attended by over 200 of the world’s most famous and photogenic yachts. Hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, the event was sponsored by UBS. As recorded in Yachting World on 21 August 2001: “Giovanni Agnelli’s 92ft sloop Stealth crossed the finish line at 1548:09 today, finishing in 4h 48m 9s. The existing record, held by Mike Slade’s Skandia Leopard, is 4h 5m 40s, and although Stealth’s time is outside that, it is still a titanic performance by the Frers design and her crew. There has certainly been progress in the 150 years since America set the original record of 10h 37m. Stealth completed the 52-mile course in less than half the time the circumnavigation took America.”

Sir Peter Harrison (1937-2021) was a businessman and technology pioneer who developed Chernikeeff into the UK’s largest privately held computer networking company before selling it for £300 million in 1999. He used the proceeds to establish the Peter Harrison Foundation, which focuses on the development of disabled and disadvantaged young people. He was knighted in 2013 for his philanthropic work. A keen yacht racer, Harrison owned many yachts, notably the Farr 115 superyacht Sojana, and personally backed the GBR Challenge for the 2002/03 America’s Cup in Auckland, along with other significant sailing projects.