2003 America's Cup
Model of the winning yacht SUI 64
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Defender  New Zealand
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| Defender club: |
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron 
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| Yacht: | NZL 82 |
Challenger  Switzerland
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| Challenger club: |
Société Nautique de Genève 
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| Yacht: | SUI 64 |
| Competition | |
| Location: | Auckland, New Zealand |
| 36°50′40″S 174°45′49″E / 36.84444°S 174.76361°ECoordinates: 36°50′40″S 174°45′49″E / 36.84444°S 174.76361°E | |
| Dates: | 15 February – 2 March 2003 |
| Rule: | International America's Cup Class |
| Winner: | Société Nautique de Genève |
| Score: | 5–0 |
The 31st America's Cup was contested between the holder, Team New Zealand, and the winner of the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup, Alinghi.
The 2002–2003 Louis Vuitton Cup, held in the Hauraki Gulf in Auckland, New Zealand saw nine teams from six countries staging 120 races over five months to select a challenger for the America's Cup. Due to sponsorship rules in force at the time, the boats were not allowed to be named after their sponsors which affected only one challenger. The Oracle boat was referenced by its sail number USA-76 because the team did not give the boat a name.
On January 19, 2003 the Swiss challenger Ernesto Bertarelli’s Alinghi, skippered by Russell Coutts, won the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals by defeating the American challenger, Larry Ellison's Oracle, 5–1, once again eliminating the United States from the America's Cup competition.
Racing for the America's Cup began On February 15, 2003. In a stiff breeze, Alinghi won the first race easily after New Zealand, skippered throughout the series by Dean Barker, withdrew due to multiple gear failures in the rigging and the low cockpit unexpectedly taking onboard large quantities of water.
Race 2, on February 16, 2003, was won by Alinghi by a margin of only seven seconds. It was one of the closest, most exciting races seen for years, with the lead changing several times and a duel of 33 tacking manoeuvres on the fifth leg.
Then on February 18, in Race 3, Alinghi won the critical start, after receiving last minute advice about a wind shift, and led throughout the race, winning with a 23-second margin.
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