America’s Cup history began around Britain’s Isle of Wight as the Royal Yacht Squadron’s £100 Cup, awarded to the race winner. Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Earl of Wilton, had invited the Americans to take part in 1851, the first foreign yacht to enter the race. The Americans played up the radical new design of their yacht and hinted they had a secret weapon i.e a new hull design AND less sail aloft. In any case, the race was won by the schooner America representing the young New York Yacht Club.
The two ships, Australia II and Liberty
With this single victory, America transformed yachting into an international competition. The New York Yacht Club Commodore John Cox Stevens and his syndicate members sold the winning schooner before returning home. They donated the trophy to New York’s Yacht Club in 1857 under a Deed of Gift: that the trophy would be a perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between nations.
The New York Yacht Club’s first defence of the Cup took place in 1870. Britain repeatedly challenged for the Cup, with one competitor, Sir Thomas Lipton, mounting five failed challenges from 1899-1930. As years passed, the hope of breaking this extraordinary winning streak made the America’s Cup even more desirable.
Britain and Canada were the only nations to challenge for the Cup until 1962 when an Australian syndicate headed by Sir Frank Packer and based at the Royal Sydney Yacht Club challenged, in Gretel. Although the Americans won again, the competition was close; in fact Gretel was the first boat to win an America’s Cup race for decades.
The Australians sailed in 1970 on Gretel II but again failed. Serious Australian involvement started when entrepreneur Alan Bond entered the Cup challenges in 1974 with Southern Cross. Southern Cross and Australia had failed in their previous attempts, but they provided crucial training for the team and for John Bertrand, future captain.
Training on Australia II
Before the Australians could challenge for the America’s Cup, they had to beat the Canadians, French, British and others. So the crew, based in Perth and rigorously trained, prepared themselves for the series of races to determine the final challenger. In the 5 months leading up to the Cup, Australia won 47 of the 56 qualifying races.
Alan Bond bankrolled Royal Perth Yacht Club’s entry, Australia II which was built in Perth by local boatbuilder, Ben Miller Lexcen. The most noted advance was Lexcen’s new winged keel design which was secretly tested in Holland, out-performing regular keels. The team kept it a secret, exposing only at the end.
Patent for the keel
The 1983 America’s Cup race was a best of 7 race tournament. Skippered by John Bertrand, Australia II lined up against America’s Liberty, skippered by Dennis Conner until the race was cancelled due to weather problems. Race I was started the next day, but Australia II was troubled by equipment failure. Liberty won by 1 minute 10 seconds. The Australians’ Race II was also marred by equipment failure, with Conner winning by 1 minute 33 seconds.
Race III was abandoned as neither yacht could complete the course in the time limit, and was restarted the next day. Australia II won by 3 minutes and 14 seconds, which brought jubilation to the Australians and their fans. However when Liberty won Race IV, it might have been all over for the Australian campaign. Australia II had to win every one of the next three races to take the Cup. In Race V, the Americans were winning yet they lost their advantage due to equipment failure. Australia won by 1 minute, 47 seconds. Race VI made history by Australia winning. It was the first time a defender had gone 3-all, the biggest winning margin recorded.
Bond(L) and Bertrand acknowledge the fans
2,000 boats watched the vital Race 7, which was postponed due to unstable weather. The Australians started well in the delayed race but Liberty increased its lead at every mark. Designer Ben Lexcen couldn’t bear watching so he went below on the Bond launch, Black Swan. Lexcen was only alerted to Australia’s amazing comeback by the screaming of those on board the officials’ boat. Two vital differences let Australia II regain the lead. The spinnaker was set and held better than Liberty, and Australia II found a few extra winds. Once in the lead, Liberty attacked vigorously on the final leg, tacking 45 times in attempting to regain the lead. But the Australians won by 41 seconds. Against all the odds Australia II became the first non-American yacht to win the Cup!
In Australia, Race 7 was in the wee hours of our morning; still, much of the nation watched the historic victory on tv. Australia erupted, captivated by the Newport Rhode Island drama!! Previously of interest only to yachties, The America’s Cup had energised the entire public. The 1983 challenge was seen as a summer-long epic that wiped wars, politics and economics from the pages of newspapers. It evoked the spirit of ANZAC heroism in WW1.
Alan Bond accepting the trophy
New York Yacht Club
In Sept 1983 Australia II made history when the oldest sporting trophy in the world, America’s Cup, was wrested from the Americans for the first time in 132 years. In May 1984 the Federal Cabinet proudly bought Australia II from Alan Bond!! In 1988 the race material was bought by the Australian government for $2,000,000, and accessioned into the National Museum of Australia collection. The yacht was displayed in Fremantle before a new home in Sydney, the Australian National Maritime Museum, was prepared.
In 1995 the Australian government offered the yacht back to Western Australia, recognising the value of conserving objects in their original homes. A purpose-built facility to house the yacht became a museum in 2002, located on Victoria Quay in Fremantle.
40 years on, Australia II skipper John Bertrand 76 and thriving, is chairman of Sport Australia Hall of Fame and Pres. Swimming Australia. For people who remember 1983, the America’s Cup, its skipper and the most popular prime minister Bob Hawke, became part of the nation’s culture.
Western Australian Museum
The Australia II team had a reunion in 2023 in Perth to mark the 40th anniversary of their win. The incredible 1983 team flew in from around the world.
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24 comments:
It is a fascinating sports history on yacht sailing.
I had no interest at all in yacht racing, yet even I was caught up in the excitement. Thank you for not quoting Bob Hawke's reaction. I am sick to death of seeing that.
Hi Helen! It's an interesting sport. I really enjoy watching yacht racing.
Was Fremantle or Sydney more important in the Australian victory? Should two museums have been built, on either side of the continent?
The Americas Cup is very exciting. Seeing the yachts racing on their foils is amazing.
roentare
Because the America's Cup had never been won by any country other than the U.S, and looked as if it would never be won by any other in the future, the 1983 event took on a huge historical importance. It was compared with establishing the military reputation of the original Anzacs, against Goliath (to mix my metaphors).
Andrew
I love almost all sports that do not involve intentional violence, even yacht racing. But I am only interested in what the sportsmen and women do, not the chairmen, bosses, entrepreneurs, patrons and advertisers. We barely heard the names of the Australian sportsmen.
Irina
It is a stunning sport to watch... the water, the skies, the beautiful yachts.
Joe
The Australia II was owned and built by a syndicate Western Australians headed by W.A businessman Alan Bond. The yacht was built in Cottesloe by local boatbuilder Steve Ward. The crew was based in Perth and did their intense training there. So the museum in Fremantle was completed in May 2002 and the exhibition installed.
Now we need to ask why the yacht sailed outside the Sydney Heads in 2012 and was joined by the 1995 America's Cup challenger, Spirit. They sailed onward to the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Foiling is when a yacht lifts above the water on specially fitted hydrofoils. The foils bring the hull out of the water, reducing drag and increasing the speed. You are right.. it looks amazing!
That was an amazing race,. I remember being glued to the TV to watch it.
Thanks for the history of the race as some of it I didn't know.
Take care.
Margaret
perfect timing... I am glued to the tv watching the Olympic Games without sleep for a fortnight. However the whole world is watching the Olympics this month.
But during the 1983 America's Cup, I wonder if any person outside Australia & US was glued to the yachting races.
Living in New England (just in case you don't know-the part of the US where Rhode Island and the race was held) we heard a lot about when Australia won. The race was always a big draw for Newport, Rhode Island where the NY yacht club held it. I saw a film I think on Netflix about this also. It was from the Australia side, about building the yacht, etc. thanks for sharing this. It was an interesting read. And if you haven't seen that documentary, you should try to find it.
Yacht racing is among the most fascinating competitions around the world!
As far as I know, it's history began in the Netherlands ,then it went to England,, next the cup went to America, and Australia.
I can remember when this happened and I have zero interest in yachting or any other sports like event
Erika
Untold: The Race of the Century was an excellent Netflix film, written from the Australian perspective. So do you think Americans valued seeing what led to Australia's historic victory at the 1983 America's Cup? Did you think the narrative was biased? or perhaps incorrect?
DUTA
Island nations or nations with long coast lines open to the ocean greatly valued boats of all sorts. And since it was mainly too cold to spend beach time swimming, diving or surfing in the Netherlands, Britain and Sweden, it seems inevitable that they would the first two naval nations where people became passionate about racing yachts, *agreed*. Australians, Americans, South Africans, New Zealanders and Brazilians etc concentrated on swimming events and didn't join the yachting passion till later.
Jo-Anne
Lots of people didn't enjoy watching wealthy people swanning around on yachts, riding polo horses, dressage, Formula One, golf etc. You are in good company :)
I remember watching that winning race, and feeling very proud, it was one of the few times I turned on the TV as soon as I got up and I almost NEVER do that. Mornings are for housework, well, they were back then when my youngest was two. Even now the TV doesn't usually go on until the 6pm news.
River
I know what you are saying about wasting the daylight hours watching tv, even for major events like the America's Cup or the Olympics. But back in 1983 there was no ability to tape major events ahead of time, watching it at night when the children were tucked up in bed. Now spouse and I have the house to ourselves, we watch sport whenever we like :)
It was an amazing race I remember watching on a communal TV at a Bribie Island camping ground. I'm glad the yacht has gone back to Fremantle.
diane
The W.A Museum collaborated with the State Library, State Records Office, and Royal Perth Yacht Club ahead of the exhibition which ran Sept 2023-Feb 2024. Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman proudly confirmed the State Government’s support of this momentous anniversary through the WA Maritime Museum exhibition and the Victoria Quay precinct.
Australia II’s legendary victory over Liberty in Newport Rhode Is is still firmly in the hearts and minds of many Australians 40 years on. The Boxing Kangaroo emblem; Men at Work’s unforgettable anthem Down Under: there are so many vivid memories from then.
https://museum.wa.gov.au/about/latest-news/australia-ii-40-years-on-exhibition-launch-september-2023
I was always interested in Ben Lexcen who seemed to me to be an interesting person . I guess he was honored with having the car named after him . Mr Bond seems to have slid off the hero pedestal pretty quickly and I always thank god that we Were not and maybe wont be a country which elects its head of state because I think he may well have been in the running . We have all seen where electing a business scheister can get a country !
It was a thrilling race I do remember watching it and being quite proud that a little place like Australia managed to beat the Yanks .
mem
I had never heard of Ben Lexcen, except as a marine designer, especially for the winged keel design applied to the Australia II yacht. Yet it goes to show how much honour the man was offered - Holden Commodore was the pride of Australian cars and Lexcen was the pride of Australian yacht design.
It WAS a thrilling race, even for Australians who didn't know a yacht from a surf board. It was a test of a small country's endless energy and national confidence, more than a just sporting victory.
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