|
AUSTRALIA II
America's Cup Winner
In 1983, the
12-meter sloop Australia II broke the longest-running winning streak in the history
of sport. She defeated the United States defender
Liberty and took the America's Cup from the
United States for the first time ever in the sport's
history of 132 years.
Australia II's radically designed "winged keel" was
perhaps the most decisive factor contributing to the
spectacular victory. It is somewhat shorter
than a regular keel. It's narrower where it leaves
the hull, and long at the bottom. For about half
of its length on the bottom it has protrusions that
stick out on each side. The protrusions poke down
at about 20 degrees.
The first of the seven
America's Cup races took place on September 14, with the
defender Liberty, Dennis Conner at the helm, defeating
Australia II by a margin of 1 minute, 10 seconds.
Liberty took the second race with a lead of 1:33, but
the third race was called because neither vessel
finished within the 5-hour, 15-minute time limit. When
the race was called, Australia II was nearly 6 minutes
ahead of Liberty.
The next day, Australia
II won her first race by 3:14, a record margin in Cup
competition. The fourth race, which Conner is said to
have sailed "perfectly," brought the series to 3-1 in
favor of Liberty.
In race five, Australia
II posted a commanding lead of 1:47, and in the sixth,
she established a new record margin of 3:25!
In the seventh and last
race, Liberty led until the fourth mark, when Australia
II began to pull away. On the last leg of the race,
Conner tried to beat the Australians in a tacking
duel—47 tacks in all—but the challengers nipped across
the line in a time of 4 hours, 15 minutes, and 29
seconds-- 43 seconds ahead of Liberty.
Australia II was the
first challenger to take the America's Cup. Upon her return to
home,
Australia II was exhibited at the National Maritime
Museum in Sydney.
This primarily wood Australia II model
is 33" long x
15" tall x 7" wide. Sold out
Different size, or
different boat? Let us build it
for you by clicking on this link:
Commissioning. Because you want
nothing but the best, click on this
link
to learn more.
For display
case, please click here:
Model Ship Display Case
Learn more about the
Australia II here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_II
|
