Australia II

[john sefton]

Australia II (KA 6) 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.
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 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.
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..."
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.
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 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.
Antigua ms1076 Australia SG1036 Barbuda ms940 Belize SG987 Gambia ms704 Grenada SG1358 Gren of Grenada SG862, 1038, 1583 Kiribati SG267 Sierra Leone SG1015 Solomon Is SG570a .
Wikipedia

[Arturo]

Australia-II

Belize, 1987, S.G.?, Scott; 860.

Belize, 1987, S.G.?, Scott; 862.

[aukepalmhof]

AUSTRALIA II KA 6 a 12-metre class yacht was built by Steve E. Ward , Perth, Cottesloe, Australia for America’s Cup Challenge 1983 Ltd. (Aland Bond.) at Perth.
Designed by Ben Lexcen.
1982 Launched as the AUSTRALIA II KA 6
Displacement 26 tons, dim. 19.72 x 3.66 x 2.62m. (draught), length on waterline 13.47m.
Sail area 169.08 m².

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.
Retirement
In the mid-1980s, AUSTRALIA II was sold by Alan Bond to the Australian government. She was loaned to the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney for display in 1991. In 2000, AUSTRALIA II was removed from the National Maritime Museum and transferred to the Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle. For the 150th anniversary celebrations of the America's Cup in 2001, she was removed from the museum and shipped to the Isle of Wight, sailing with the original crew for several days of commemorative regattas. AUSTRALIA II was returned to the Western Australian Maritime Museum, where she is on permanent display till today.

Wikipedia.

Antigua 1987 $5 MSsg1076, scott1004. 1988 $5 sgMS 1194, Scott?
Australia 1986 36c sg1036, scott1001.
Barbuda 1987 $5 MSsg940, scott856
Belize 1987 $1 sg987, scott860 and 862.
Gambia 1987 12b MSsg704, scott676
Grenada 1984 $4 sg1358, scott?
Grenadines of Grenada 1987 $4 sg862, scott865. 1988 $6 sg1038, scott1005 and 1992 $2 sg1583, scott1480.
Kiribati 1986 $1.50 sg267, scott484
Sierra Leone 1987 15le sg1015, scott837.
Solomon Islands 1986 30c sg570a, scott574f.
Barbuda Mail 1988 $5 sg1070, Scott?