1983 America's Cup
Defender  United States
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|
|---|---|
| Defender club: |
New York Yacht Club 
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| Yacht: | Liberty |
Challenger  Australia
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| Challenger club: |
Royal Perth Yacht Club 
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| Yacht: | Australia II |
| Competition | |
| Location: | Newport, Rhode Island, United States |
| Dates: | 14–26 September 1983 |
| Rule: | 12-metre |
| Winner: | Royal Perth Yacht Club |
| Score: | 4–3 |
The 1983 America's Cup was the occasion of the first winning challenge to the New York Yacht Club, which had successfully defended the cup over a period of 132 years. An Australian syndicate representing the Royal Perth Yacht Club fielded the Australia II, skippered by John Bertrand, against defender Liberty, skippered by Dennis Conner. Australia II won the match races to win the America's Cup, ending the longest winning streak in sporting history and ending U.S. domination of the racing series.
Skippered by team principal Dennis Conner, Liberty won all the Defender trials and on September 2, 1983, the New York Yacht Club confirmed that Liberty was to represent the NYYC as defender of the America's Cup.
During the summer preceding the trials, Conner had been the focus of extensive media attention in the U.S. He was even featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, a rare recognition for a sailor.
Alan Bond arrived at Newport with Australia II, billed as one of the biggest threats to American dominance of the 12 Metre class. The boat was designed by Ben Lexcen and skippered by John Bertrand. The revolutionary "winged keel" of the Australian yacht was a subject of controversy from the outset of the challenger series, with the New York Yacht club alleging that the winged keel boat was not a legal 12 Meter, and that the keel design itself was the result of Dutch engineers, and not by Lexcen. This second point would have made Australia II illegal under the requirement that the boat be "designed and constructed in country" as the Deed of Gift that governed the competition stipulated. The boat was ruled a legal 12 Meter, and she was allowed to participate in the regatta. The speed of the new contender, along with the controversy and protests intensified international media attention to the series.
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