Australia II
Encyclopedia
Australia II is the Australian 12-metre-class
challenge racing yacht
that was launched in 1982 and won the 1983
America's Cup
for the Royal Perth Yacht Club
. Captained by John Bertrand, she was the first successful Cup challenger, ending a 132-year tenure (with 26 successful defenses) by the New York Yacht Club
.
, built by Steve Ward, owned by Alan Bond
and helmed by John Bertrand. Lexcen's Australia II design featured a winged keel
which gave the boat a significant advantage in maneuverability but was a significant disadvantage in choppy seas. The boat was also very quick in stays. The winged keel was a major design advance, and its legality was questioned by the New York Yacht Club. During the summer of 1983, as selection trials took place for the Cup defence that autumn, the New York Yacht Club challenged the legality of the keel design. The controversy was decided in Australia IIs favour.
Australia II sported a number of other innovative features which contributed to her success, including radical vertical sail designs, all kevlar running rigging and a lightweight carbon fibre boom. In addition, John Bertrand and his crew were well trained and capable to perform at the highest levels under the significant pressure of this internationally historic event.
In 2009, Dutch naval architect Peter van Oossanen claimed that the winged keel was actually designed by himself and his group of Dutch designers, and not Ben Lexcen. If true, this would have been reason to disqualify Australia II, since the rules state that the yacht is to be designed by citizens of the nation it represents. However the controversy imposed upon Ben Lexcen and Australia II since she competed for the Cup in 1983 has been refuted by both John Bertrand and project manager John Longley. Furthermore, it is well established that Lexcen had been working with wing adaptations to the undersurface appendages of boats for thirty-five years, as his 1958 skiffs Taipan and Venom amply demonstrate. In 1983 Lexcen commented on the controversy: "I have in mind to admit it all to the New York Yacht Club that I really owe the secret of the design to a Greek guy who helped me out and was invaluable. He's been dead for 2000 years. Bloody Archimedes
..."
before defeating Azzurra
in the semi finals and Victory '83 in the final to win the trophy and earn the right to challenge for the America's Cup.
of Australia in its September 1983
challenge for the America's Cup. The defender, the New York Yacht Club
, had held the cup since 1851, dominating challengers and sustaining the longest winning streak in sport.
Australia II, skippered by John Bertrand, faced Dennis Conner
sailing the 12-metre Liberty in the ocean off Newport, Rhode Island
. Australia II came from behind to prevail 4 races to 3. The victory on 26 September 1983 was a landmark event for the nation of Australia, not to mention the Royal Perth Yacht Club. The achievement was underscored when Australia II was awarded the ABC
Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year for 1983.
was the official mascot of the Australia II effort.
The win was received with much enthusiasm in Australia, with the Men at Work
song Down Under
becoming the official anthem for the crew.
In the film Wind
, Australia II is portrayed as Boomerang.
in Sydney for display in 1991. In 2000, the yacht was removed from the National Maritime Museum, and transferred to the Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle
. For the 150th anniversary of the America's Cup, the boat was removed from the museum and shipped to the Isle of Wight
, sailing with the original crew for several days of commemorative regattas. The boat was returned to the Western Austalian Maritime Museum, where it is on permanent display.
12-metre class
The 12 Metre Class is a rating class for racing boats designed to the International rule. It enables fair competition between boats that rate in the class whilst retaining the freedom to experiment with the details of their designs. The first 12 Metres were built in 1907. The 12 Metre Class was...
challenge racing yacht
Yacht racing
Yacht racing is the sport of competitive yachting.While sailing groups organize the most active and popular competitive yachting, other boating events are also held world-wide: speed motorboat racing; competitive canoeing, kayaking, and rowing; model yachting; and navigational contests Yacht racing...
that was launched in 1982 and won the 1983
1983 America's Cup
The 1983 America's Cup was the occasion of the first winning challenge to the New York Yacht Club who had successfully defended the cup over a period of 132 years...
America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
for the Royal Perth Yacht Club
Royal Perth Yacht Club
The Royal Perth Yacht Club is a yacht club in Perth, Western Australia. -Early history:The "Perth Yacht and Boat Club" in 1880 was able to build a jetty at the foot of William Street in Perth Water. Perth Yacht Club received the Royal Charter in 1890. The club shifted to Crawley in 1953 when the...
. Captained by John Bertrand, she was the first successful Cup challenger, ending a 132-year tenure (with 26 successful defenses) by the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
.
Design
Designed by Ben LexcenBen Lexcen
Ben Lexcen AM born Robert Miller was an Australian yachtsman and marine architect. He is famous for the winged keel design applied to Australia II which, in 1983, became the first non-American yacht to win the prestigious America's Cup in 132 years.-Early life:Born in the coastal town of...
, built by Steve Ward, owned by Alan Bond
Alan Bond (businessman)
Alan Bond is an Australian businessman noted for his criminal convictions and high-profile business dealings, including what was at the time the biggest corporate collapse in Australian history. Bond was born in the Hammersmith district of London, England, and emigrated to Australia with his...
and helmed by John Bertrand. Lexcen's Australia II design featured a winged keel
Winged keel
A winged keel is a sailboat keel, usually of moderate aspect ratio, that uses a nearly horizontal foil, the "wing", at the bottom to provide additional performance. Note that the wing is upside down with relation to the boat...
which gave the boat a significant advantage in maneuverability but was a significant disadvantage in choppy seas. The boat was also very quick in stays. The winged keel was a major design advance, and its legality was questioned by the New York Yacht Club. During the summer of 1983, as selection trials took place for the Cup defence that autumn, the New York Yacht Club challenged the legality of the keel design. The controversy was decided in Australia IIs favour.
Australia II sported a number of other innovative features which contributed to her success, including radical vertical sail designs, all kevlar running rigging and a lightweight carbon fibre boom. In addition, John Bertrand and his crew were well trained and capable to perform at the highest levels under the significant pressure of this internationally historic event.
In 2009, Dutch naval architect Peter van Oossanen claimed that the winged keel was actually designed by himself and his group of Dutch designers, and not Ben Lexcen. If true, this would have been reason to disqualify Australia II, since the rules state that the yacht is to be designed by citizens of the nation it represents. However the controversy imposed upon Ben Lexcen and Australia II since she competed for the Cup in 1983 has been refuted by both John Bertrand and project manager John Longley. Furthermore, it is well established that Lexcen had been working with wing adaptations to the undersurface appendages of boats for thirty-five years, as his 1958 skiffs Taipan and Venom amply demonstrate. In 1983 Lexcen commented on the controversy: "I have in mind to admit it all to the New York Yacht Club that I really owe the secret of the design to a Greek guy who helped me out and was invaluable. He's been dead for 2000 years. Bloody Archimedes
Archimedes
Archimedes of Syracuse was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Among his advances in physics are the foundations of hydrostatics, statics and an...
..."
Louis Vuitton Cup
Australia II dominated the 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup1983 Louis Vuitton Cup
The 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup was held in Newport, Rhode Island, United States in 1983. The winner, Australia II, went on to challenge for the 1983 America's Cup.-The teams:-Australia II :...
before defeating Azzurra
Azzurra
Azzurra is a yacht racing team that competes in America's Cup style sailing out of the yacht club Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.-Early history:Managed by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and funded by Aga Khan IV and Gianni Agnelli, Azzurra began to compete in 1982...
in the semi finals and Victory '83 in the final to win the trophy and earn the right to challenge for the America's Cup.
America's Cup
Australia II, bearing sail number KA6, represented the Royal Perth Yacht ClubRoyal Perth Yacht Club
The Royal Perth Yacht Club is a yacht club in Perth, Western Australia. -Early history:The "Perth Yacht and Boat Club" in 1880 was able to build a jetty at the foot of William Street in Perth Water. Perth Yacht Club received the Royal Charter in 1890. The club shifted to Crawley in 1953 when the...
of Australia in its September 1983
1983 America's Cup
The 1983 America's Cup was the occasion of the first winning challenge to the New York Yacht Club who had successfully defended the cup over a period of 132 years...
challenge for the America's Cup. The defender, the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
, had held the cup since 1851, dominating challengers and sustaining the longest winning streak in sport.
Australia II, skippered by John Bertrand, faced Dennis Conner
Dennis Conner
Dennis Conner is an American yachtsman, noted for winning the bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics, two Star World Championships, and four wins in the America's Cup.-America's Cup:...
sailing the 12-metre Liberty in the ocean off Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. Australia II came from behind to prevail 4 races to 3. The victory on 26 September 1983 was a landmark event for the nation of Australia, not to mention the Royal Perth Yacht Club. The achievement was underscored when Australia II was awarded the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year for 1983.
Popular culture
The Boxing KangarooBoxing Kangaroo
The boxing kangaroo is a national symbol of Australia, frequently seen in popular culture. The symbol is often displayed prominently by Australian spectators at sporting events, such as at cricket, tennis and football matches, and at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. The flag is also highly...
was the official mascot of the Australia II effort.
The win was received with much enthusiasm in Australia, with the Men at Work
Men at Work
Men at Work are an Australian rock band who achieved international success in the 1980s. They are the only Australian artists to have a simultaneous #1 album and #1 single in the United States . They achieved the same distinction of a simultaneous #1 album and #1 single in the United Kingdom...
song Down Under
Down Under (song)
"Down Under" is a pop song recorded by Men at Work for their debut album Business as Usual . The song went to #1 on American, British, Canadian and Australian charts....
becoming the official anthem for the crew.
In the film Wind
Wind (film)
Wind is a film released in 1992. The movie was directed by Carroll Ballard and starred Matthew Modine, Jennifer Grey, and Cliff Robertson.- Plot summary :...
, Australia II is portrayed as Boomerang.
Retirement
In the mid-1980s, Australia II was sold by Alan Bond to the Australian government. The yacht was loaned to the Australian National Maritime MuseumAustralian National Maritime Museum
The Australian National Maritime Museum is a federally-operated maritime museum located in Darling Harbour, Sydney. After consideration of the idea to establish a maritime museum, the Federal government announced that a national maritime museum would be constructed at Darling Harbour, tied into...
in Sydney for display in 1991. In 2000, the yacht was removed from the National Maritime Museum, and transferred to the Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
. For the 150th anniversary of the America's Cup, the boat was removed from the museum and shipped to the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, sailing with the original crew for several days of commemorative regattas. The boat was returned to the Western Austalian Maritime Museum, where it is on permanent display.
External links
Further reading
- Schmitt, Hugh. (1987) Australia II – details on the housing of the yacht The West AustralianThe West AustralianThe West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
28 May 1987, p. 16a-c b