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.