Uh, Mark - Michael Fay was from New Zealand.

Michael Fay

One year later, the Kiwis and Michael Fay surprised the Cup world again by challenging the San Diego Yacht Club with their immense monohull nicknamed the Big Boat KZ 1. This 'rogue challenge' relied on a literal interpretation of the Deed of Gift. The American response was swift and decisive: they built a small catamaran fitted with a hard wing sail, Stars and Stripes, that easily won the races on the water. However the result of the 1988 America's Cup would be determined in court. After a legal imbroglio New Zealand was awarded by the America's Cup, but it would be a short-lived victory. The Americans were finally awarded the Cup on appeal, but the whole affair was a difficult one for the event.

On the positive side, the 1988 mismatch allowed the emergence of a new class of boat, the International America's Cup Class. Michael Fay came back to San Diego in 1992 with the surprising New Zealand NZL-20, fitted with no rudder but with a tandem keel and a special bowsprit. The way the Kiwis used the bowsprit became the subject of a protest that changed the course of the Louis Vuitton Cup finals, allowing the Italian Il Moro di Venezia ITA-25 to snatch the momentum from the Kiwis and claim the series.