As we countdown to the 35th America’s Cup The Royal Gazette will bring you a series of fun facts about the boats, the sailors, the crew, and the history of this illustrious competition. There are now three days until the month-long sporting spectacle gets under way.

The America’s Cup Hall of Fame will induct three people this year; John K Marshall, Doug Peterson, and Syd Fischer.

More than 80 legends of the Cup have been inducted into the Hall. Candidates eligible for consideration include members of the crew, designers, builders, syndicate leaders, supporters, chroniclers, and other individuals of merit. Each nominee is judged on the basis of outstanding ability, international recognition, character, performance, and contributions to the sport. The members of the selection committee are intimate with the history and traditions of America’s Cup and committed to the integrity of the Hall of Fame.

The America’s Cup Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on October 5, 2017 in San Diego, aboard the USS Midway.

John Marshall won the America’s Cup three times — once as a sailor, and, twice, as a coordinator of the design team. Dennis Conner remarked that Marshall “is the guy who talks the same language as the eggheads and the jocks.”

Doug Peterson is a two-time winner of the America’s Cup, and was a member of the design teams for America3 (winner in 1992), Team New Zealand (winner in 1995), and Prada Challenge (2000 and 2003).

Australia’s Syd Fischer stands with the high-profile Ulster-Scot, Sir Thomas Lipton, as the only yachtsman to have mounted five self-funded challenges for the America’s Cup in the event’s 166-year history.

Fischer is also noted for launching the America’s Cup careers of some of today’s most famous Australian yachtsmen, in particular Jimmy Spithill, Iain Murray and Hugh Treharne, who was tactician aboard the 1983 Cup winner, Australia II.

Outside of the America’s Cup, Syd Fischer is recognised as Australia’s most successful offshore sailor. He has tasted victory in two of the world’s major ocean racing events — the Sydney to Hobart and the Fastnet race — won the One Ton Cup world championship and led six Australian campaigns for the Admiral’s Cup in England.