Australia II
| Australia II | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Career | |
| Yacht Club: | Royal Perth Yacht Club |
| Nation: |  Australia |
| Launched: | 1982 |
| Owner(s): | Alan Bond |
| Skipper(s): | John Bertrand |
| Notable Victories: | Louis Vuitton Cup; 1983 America's Cup; 1983 |
Australia II (KA 6) is the Australian 12-metre-class challenge racing yacht that was launched in 1982[1] 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.
Contents |
[edit] Design
Designed by Ben Lexcen, 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.[2] 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 II's 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.
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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.[3] 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.[4] 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..."[5]
[edit] Competitions
[edit] Louis Vuitton Cup
Australia II dominated the 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup 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.
[edit] America's Cup
Australia II, bearing sail number KA6, represented the Royal Perth Yacht Club 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[6] 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.
[edit] Popular culture
The Boxing Kangaroo 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.
[edit] Retirement
In the mid-1980s, Australia II was sold by Alan Bond to the Australian government.[7] The yacht was loaned to the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney for display in 1991.[7] In 2000, the yacht was removed from the National Maritime Museum, and transferred to the Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle.[7] 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.[citation needed] The boat was returned to the Western Australian Maritime Museum, where it is on permanent display.
[edit] References
- ^ J.T.. "1983 – AUSTRALIA II – KA". 33rd America's Cup. http://33rd.americascup.com/en/contexte/que-sont-ils-devenus/index.php?idIndex=25&idContent=680. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ Anderson, Dave (1988-05-05). "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Yachting's Crocodile Dundee". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE3DB1F3BF936A35756C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
- ^ Feneley, Rick (14 October 2009). "Winged keel not Lexcen's design, Dutch architect claims". The Age (Australia). http://www.theage.com.au/national/winged-keel-not-lexcens-design-dutch-architect-claims-20091013-gvnr.html.
- ^ Donald, Timothy (14 October 2009). "Dutchman Claims Australia II Keel Design". ABC News. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/14/2713480.htm.
- ^ Robinson, Blue (2 October 2009). "Ben Lexcen: A crazy, lovable rogue". Scuttlebutte News. http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/1002b/.
- ^ "1983 – Australia II – KA 6". Ac-clopedia. AC Management S.A. Sucursal en España. http://32nd.americascup.com/en/acclopaedia/boatdestiny/index.php?idIndex=0&idContent=1851. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
- ^ a b c "Go west: Australia II heads for home". The Sydney Morning Herald: pp. 3.
[edit] External links
[edit] Further reading
- Schmitt, Hugh. (1987) Australia II – details on the housing of the yacht The West Australian 28 May 1987, p. 16a-c b
