For the glory of a nation - Australia II wins the America’s Cup

by America's Cup on 7 Oct 2016 The sailing world changed on September 26, 1983. That was the day Australia II rumbled past Liberty to become the first challenger in history to win the America’s Cup.

With the win, the Australian team ended what is often called the longest winning streak in sport, at 132-years. Of equal importance the glory of winning the America’s Cup captivated fans all around the world.

“You captured the imagination of the people the world over,” said President Ronald Reagan, as he congratulated the foreign upstarts on a visit to the White House two days after the race. “You have shown us the stuff of which Australians are made.”

That ‘stuff’ included ingenuity, perseverance, and a determination to win that would not be denied.

It took Australia over 20 years to win the America’s Cup with the first challenge coming in 1962. Subsequent efforts in 1964 and 1967 were equally unsuccessful.

In 1970, the defending club allowed multiple challenges for the first time in over 100 years. Many observers point to this as the beginning of the end of the successful winning streak for the Americans as for the first time, the challengers would enter the match battle-hardened, through internal competition to select the ultimate challenger.

Still, the USA held on to the trophy through 1970, 1974, 1977 and 1980, routing the challengers 16-2 over that period.

But 1983 felt different from the beginning. This was the best prepared challenger in history. Skipper John Bertrand was an engineer, an Olympic medalist and an intense competitor.

And the design of Australia II, from the pen of the brilliant Ben Lexcen, featured a secret weapon – a winged keel – that the team kept hidden from view with tarpaulin ‘modesty skirts’ that were draped over the side of the boat each day before it was lifted in or out of the water.

Australia II made fast work of the challenger trials and a showdown was set with Liberty, skippered by Dennis Conner, who was just beginning to earn his nickname ‘Mr. America’s Cup’.

Dramatically, the best of seven series opened with two wins to the American boat, after the Australians suffered equipment failure. Australia won the next race, but lost race four and suddenly, unexpectedly, Conner was on match point, up three - one, needing just one win to retain the Cup against what was largely considered to be a faster boat.

“It’s going to be very exciting to be involved in what’s going to be the race of the century,” Conner would say on the eve of the final race. “At this point, we’re hoping we can find a way to prevail like we have over the last 132-years. We have a lot of tradition going for us, and we have a very courageous crew and somehow I think we’ll pull it out.”

For the Australians, just winning three races in the final series was an achievement no other challenger could claim. But it wasn’t enough. Only winning the Cup would sate the hunger. Back home in Australia, the nation had become transfixed by the match. A nation was united behind the team, despite the races taking place in the middle night. “We were a nation of zombies by the end,” said one television commentator.

The final race was a bit like the series. Despite showing flashes of speed, the Australian boat found itself behind in the later stages of the race.

“With Liberty in front, we just had to bide our time,” Bertrand recalled. “She was sailing very fast in the light conditions. We just had to wait for her to make a mistake.”

On the final downwind leg, Bertrand and his crew would get his opportunity. He found a puff of wind that eluded the Americans and made an historic pass. Conner and his team fought valiantly on the final leg to the finish, but couldn’t recover, all glory to Australia.

The celebrations were epic. Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke famously declared: “Any boss who sacks a worker for not turning up today is a bum.'

Years later, reflecting on the win he said, “The nation celebrated because this was truly historic. Little Australia had gone up and done what people had thought was impossible.”

Dennis Conner would redouble the efforts and win the Cup back in 1987. However painful at the time, he said losing the Cup in ’83 was perhaps the best thing that ever happened.

“Me losing after 132 years was the best thing that ever happened to the America’s Cup and the best thing that ever happened to Dennis Conner,” he would say. “Before the win by the Australians, the America’s Cup was only big in the minds of the yachties, but the rest of the world didn't know or care about it at all. But when we lost it… suddenly everyone appreciated it. If I hadn't lost it, there never would have been the national effort... without that there never would have been the ticker-tape parade up Fifth Avenue in New York, lunch with the President at the White House and all the doors that it opened.”

Conner would continue to race for America’s Cup glory through 2003, claiming wins in 1987 and 1988, to go along with his 1980 victory.

Bertrand’s last America’s Cup appearance was in 1995 but his win with Australia II was the time he captured the hearts of a nation and won America’s Cup glory.