- 1983 America's Cup
The 1983 America's Cup was the occasion of the first successful challenge to the
New York Yacht Club 's 132-year defence of asailing trophy. AnAustralia n syndicate representing theRoyal Perth Yacht Club won theregatta andmatch race , gaining theAmerica's Cup and ending the longest winning streak insport ing history.Alan Bond arrived at Newport with "
Australia II ", already billed as one of the biggest threats to American 12 Metre dominance. The vessel was designed byBen Lexcen and skippered byJohn Bertrand . The revolutionary "winged" keel sported by the Australian yacht was a subject of controversy and legal action which failed to disqualify the Australian challenge. The trials in the courtroom and at sea intensified international media attention to the series. "Australia II" suffered equipment failure in the first two races against the American defender "Liberty" but came back from 3-1 down to win the last three races and the America’s Cup. In winning the seventh and deciding race on26 September 1983 , "Australia II" became the first successful challenger in 132 years.The victory was
televised and celebrated in public venues across Australia. Prime MinisterBob Hawke was interviewed at the late night celebration in Claremont and said, "Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum".The America's Cup was transferred from the
New York Yacht Club to theRoyal Perth Yacht Club inWestern Australia . In 1987-88, It was unsuccessfully defended inFremantle, Western Australia , andDennis Conner delivered the trophy to theSan Diego Yacht Club in the United States of America.ee also
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1987 America's Cup Further reading
* Akerman, Piers. (1983) "The cup comes down under" Perth, W.A. Angus & Robertson,ISBN 0207149135
* "The official Advance Australia Souvenir, America's cup 1983". Sydney: Amalgamated Pub. ISBN 0959249907* Levitt, Michael & Llloyd, Barbara (1984) "Upset : Australia wins the America's Cup" color photography by Dan Nerney. Sydney: Hodder and Stoughton, ISBN 0340355808 (First published: New York : Workman Publishing, 1983).
* Moult, Allan (compiler) "The America’s Cup ’83" Collector’s edition. McMahon’s Point, N.S.W. Kevin Weldon & Associates
* Panorama Books (1983) "How we won the America’s Cup : a souvenir". Perth, W.A. : Panorama Books. ISBN 0949864137 (ANB/PRECIS SIN 0705837)
* Park, Andy (editor) Stannard, Bruce (text) (1984) "Australia II : the official record" Sydney: Joyce Childress Management. ISBN 0959131302
* Stannard, Bruce.(1983)"The triumph of Australia II : the America's Cup challenge of 1983" Sydney: Lansdowne Press. ISBN 070181800X
* Todd, Nigel and Ross, Brian (1983) "America’s Cup ’83 : the official Advance Australia edition" Manly, N.S.W. : Sea Spray. ISBN 0959249997
* Westley, Eileen (1983)" America’s Cup ’83, the complete story". Sydney. John Fairfax Marketing. ISBN 0909558361
* Wheatley, Keith (1986) "America's Cup '87 : the inside story" Penguin Books, Ringwood, Vic. ISBN 0140103318
* Wilson, Lorraine.(1984) "The America’s Cup 1983" illustrated by Alex Stitt. Melbourne : Nelson. ISBN 0170064522External links
* [http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/search/dAmerica%27s+Cup+%281983+%3A+Rhode+Island%29/damericas+cup+1983+rhode+island/-3%2C-1%2C0%2CB/frameset&FF=damericas+cup+1983+rhode+island+photographs&1%2C%2C3 Alan Bond and John Bertrand at America's Cup celebrations, The Esplanade, Perth]
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