<P> In 1992, USA - 23 of the America3 team, skippered by billionaire Bill Koch and sailing legend Harry "Buddy" Melges, defeated the Italian challenger Il Moro ITA - 25, owned by billionaire Raul Gardini's Il Moro di Venezia, 4--1 . </P> <P> In 1995, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron syndicate Team New Zealand, skippered by Russell Coutts, first won the challenger series in NZL 32, dubbed "Black Magic" because of her black hull and uncanny speed . Black Magic then easily defeated Dennis Connor's Stars & Stripes team, 5--0, to win the cup for New Zealand . Although team Young America's cup candidate yacht USA - 36 was defeated in defender trials by Stars & Stripes' USA - 34, the San Diego Yacht Club elected to defend the cup with USA - 36 crewed by Stars & Stripes . The run - up to the 1995 Cup was notable for the televised sinking of oneAustralia during the fourth round robin of the Louis Vuitton challenger selection series, with all hands escaping uninjured . The 1995 defender selection series also had the first mostly female (with one man) crew sailing the yacht USA - 43, nicknamed "Mighty Mary". </P> <P> On 14 March 1996, a man entered the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's clubroom and damaged the America's Cup with a sledgehammer . The man, Benjamin Peri Nathan, was subsequently found guilty of criminal damage and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment (reduced from 34 months on appeal). The damage was so severe that it was feared that the cup was irreparable . London's Garrards silversmiths, who had manufactured the cup in 1848, painstakingly restored the trophy to its original condition over three months, free of charge . In 2003, an extra 20 cm was added to the cup's base to accommodate the names of future winners . </P> <P> At Auckland in 1999--2000, Team New Zealand, led by Sir Peter Blake, and again skippered by Russell Coutts, defeated the Italian Prada Challenge from the Yacht Club Punta Ala . The Italians had previously beaten the AmericaOne syndicate from the St Francis Yacht Club in the Louis Vuitton Cup final . This was the first America's Cup to be contested without an American challenger or defender . </P>

How did britain do in the americas cup