1983 Louis Vuitton Cup
Encyclopedia
| 1st Louis Vuitton Cup | |
|---|---|
| Date | 1983 |
| Winner |  Australia IIAustralia II Australia II 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... |
| Location | Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
The 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup
Louis Vuitton Cup
The Louis Vuitton Cup is a yachting competition connected with the America's Cup. The Louis Vuitton Cup was used as the selection series to select the team to sail as the challenger in the America's Cup...
was held in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1983. The winner, Australia II
Australia II
Australia II 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...
, went on to challenge for the 1983 America's Cup
1983 America's Cup
The 1983 America's Cup was the occasion of the first winning challenge to the New York Yacht Club who had successfully defended the cup over a period of 132 years...
.
The teams
| Club | Team | Skipper | Yachts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Perth Yacht Club Royal Perth Yacht Club The Royal Perth Yacht Club is a yacht club in Perth, Western Australia. -Early history:The "Perth Yacht and Boat Club" in 1880 was able to build a jetty at the foot of William Street in Perth Water. Perth Yacht Club received the Royal Charter in 1890. The club shifted to Crawley in 1953 when the... |
Australia II Australia II Australia II 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... |
John Bertrand | Australia II (KA 6) |
| Royal Burnham Yacht Club Royal Burnham Yacht Club The Royal Burnham Yacht Club was founded in 1895. The club is located in Burnham-on-Crouch. The RBYC is divided into two groups of members: the cadets nineteen and younger, and the full members who are over nineteen. The club has a colourful history, including the launching of the 1983 Americas... |
Victory | Phil Crebbin, Lawrie Smith Lawrie Smith Lawrie Smith is a British sailor. He won a bronze medal in the soling class at the 1992 Summer Olympics with Robert Cruikshank and Ossie Stewart.... and Rodney Pattisson Rodney Pattisson Rodney Stuart Pattisson, MBE is a double olympic gold medalist in sailing won at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and 1972 Munich Olympics all in the Flying Dutchman class... |
Victory of Burnham (K 21), Victory '83 (K 22) |
| Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron is a yacht club located at St Kilda Beach in the suburb of St. Kilda in Melbourne, Australia. The squadron was originally founded in 1876. Its has occupied its grounds on Pier Road in St. Kilda since prior to incorporation.... |
Challenge 12 | John Savage | Challenge 12 (KA 10) |
 Yacht Club Costa SmeraldaYacht Club Costa Smeralda Yacht Club Costa Smeralda was established by the Aga Khan in 1967. It is situated at Porto Cervo in Costa Smeralda, northern Sardinia and provides services for recreational sailors.... |
Azzurra Azzurra Azzurra is a yacht racing team that competes in America's Cup style sailing out of the yacht club Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.-Early history:Managed by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and funded by Aga Khan IV and Gianni Agnelli, Azzurra began to compete in 1982... |
Mauro Pellaschier |
Azzurra (I 4) |
| France 3 |  Bruno Troublé |
France 3 | |
 Secret Cove Yacht Club |
Secret Cove Yacht Club Challenge | Terry McLaughlin Terry McLaughlin Terry McLaughlin is a canadian sailor. He won a silver medal in the Flying Dutchman Class at the 1984 Summer Olympics with Evert Bastet.He skippered Canada I in the 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup.-External links:... |
Canada I (KC 1) |
| Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron is a yacht club located in North Sydney, Australia in the suburb of Kirribilli.The squadron was originally founded in 1862... |
Advance | Iain Murray Iain Murray (sailor) Iain Murray is an Australia sailor. He is most noted for his appearances in 12-Metre Class yachts in the 1983 and 1987 America's Cup regattas, but is also a champion 18ft Skiff skipper. The modern version of the 18ft Skiff was designed by Murray... |
Advance |
Australia II (AUS)
Owned by Alan BondAlan Bond (businessman)
Alan Bond is an Australian businessman noted for his criminal convictions and high-profile business dealings, including what was at the time the biggest corporate collapse in Australian history. Bond was born in the Hammersmith district of London, England, and emigrated to Australia with his...
and helmed by John Bertrand, Australia II
Australia II
Australia II 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...
featured an innovative winged keel
Winged keel
A winged keel is a sailboat keel, usually of moderate aspect ratio, that uses a nearly horizontal foil, the "wing", at the bottom to provide additional performance. Note that the wing is upside down with relation to the boat...
design developed by Ben Lexcen
Ben Lexcen
Ben Lexcen AM born Robert Miller was an Australian yachtsman and marine architect. He is famous for the winged keel design applied to Australia II which, in 1983, became the first non-American yacht to win the prestigious America's Cup in 132 years.-Early life:Born in the coastal town of...
which helped to make it point higher, sail faster and be quicker in coming about. The boat was innovative in a number of ways, but the winged keel was the most striking design advance and the distinguishing feature of the boat. The New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
challenged the legality of the keel design, but it was ruled to be legal. Australia II dominated the Louis Vuitton Cup and took the trophy, earning the right to compete in the 1983 America's Cup
1983 America's Cup
The 1983 America's Cup was the occasion of the first winning challenge to the New York Yacht Club who had successfully defended the cup over a period of 132 years...
.
Victory (GBR)
Peter de SavaryPeter de Savary
Peter John de Savary is an English entrepreneur and a former Chairman of Millwall F.C. In the 1999 Sunday Times Rich List, he was placed in 971st place with an estimated fortune of £21 million, but was not listed in the top thousand places in subsequent editions.-Biography:De Savary built his...
funded the Royal Burnham Yacht Club
Royal Burnham Yacht Club
The Royal Burnham Yacht Club was founded in 1895. The club is located in Burnham-on-Crouch. The RBYC is divided into two groups of members: the cadets nineteen and younger, and the full members who are over nineteen. The club has a colourful history, including the launching of the 1983 Americas...
's Victory Syndicate. The team used three skippers over the Cup; Phil Crebbin, Lawrie Smith
Lawrie Smith
Lawrie Smith is a British sailor. He won a bronze medal in the soling class at the 1992 Summer Olympics with Robert Cruikshank and Ossie Stewart....
and Rodney Pattisson
Rodney Pattisson
Rodney Stuart Pattisson, MBE is a double olympic gold medalist in sailing won at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and 1972 Munich Olympics all in the Flying Dutchman class...
. Two boats were constructed; Victory of Burnham (K 21), Victory '83 (K 22), although K 22 was ultimately used in the Cup.
Challenge 12 (AUS)
Owned by a number of Australian businessmen from Victoria headed by Dick Pratt. Challenge 12 was also designed by Lexcen and sold to the Victorian challenge after the Bond syndicate selected Australia II. She was a fast, traditional 12 Meter, and lacked the winged keel of her sister boat Australia II. John Bertrand favored her initially, but was talked into sailing the new design by Alan Bond. She may have been superior to Australia II in heavy winds, and was a real threat to the men from the West of Australia. Skippered by John Savage.Azzurra (ITA)
Managed by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and funded by Aga Khan IVAga Khan IV
Prince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...
and Gianni Agnelli
Gianni Agnelli
Giovanni Agnelli , better known as Gianni Agnelli , was an Italian industrialist and principal shareholder of Fiat. As the head of Fiat, he controlled 4.4% of Italy's GDP, 3.1% of its industrial workforce, and 16.5% of its industrial investment in research...
, Azzura was formed in 1982. Ambrosini
Ambrosini (aircraft manufacturer)
SAI Ambrosini was an Italian aircraft manufacturer established in Passignano sul Trasimeno, Italy in 1922 as the Società Aeronautica Italiana. It became SAI Ambrosini when it was acquired by the Ambrosini group in 1934. Prior to World War II, the firm built a number of light touring and racing...
was involved with the construction of the yacht Azzurra (I-4), and they proved to be a competitive new challenge. Skippered by Cino Ricci and with Mauro Pelaschier on the helm, the original Azzurra team won 24 of 49 races and developed a large and loyal following in Italy.
France 3 (FRA)
France 3, skippered by Bruno Troublé, returned for its second challenge for the America's Cup. The syndicate was financed by Yves Roussert-Rouard who had purchased the boat from Marcel BichMarcel Bich
Marcel Bich was the co-founder of Bic, the world's leading producer of ballpoint pens.-History:In 1945, Bich and his partner, Edouard Buffard, bought an empty factory near Paris, France...
who had financed the first four French challenges. The syndicate was hampered by money problems and an inexperienced crew.
Canada (CAN)
Canada returned to the Cup as a challenger for the first time in over a hundred years. Their boat Canada would be completely revamped and compete again three years later at the 1987 Cup1987 America's Cup
The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-seventh challenge for the America's Cup and the first time for 132 years that it had not been defended by the New York Yacht Club....
as Canada II.
Advance (AUS)
A Sydney challenger owned and run by Australian sailing legend, Syd FischerSyd Fischer
Syd Fischer, OBE is an Australian businessman and property developer and sailor.Most noted for his sailing, Fischer is described as Australia's most successful offshore sailor...
. A very radical but ultimately slow design by Alan Payne, the designer of Gretel I and II. Skippered by 18 foot skiff champion, Iain Murray
Iain Murray (sailor)
Iain Murray is an Australia sailor. He is most noted for his appearances in 12-Metre Class yachts in the 1983 and 1987 America's Cup regattas, but is also a champion 18ft Skiff skipper. The modern version of the 18ft Skiff was designed by Murray...
.
Semi finals
Australia II defeated AzzurraAzzurra
Azzurra is a yacht racing team that competes in America's Cup style sailing out of the yacht club Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.-Early history:Managed by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and funded by Aga Khan IV and Gianni Agnelli, Azzurra began to compete in 1982...
while Victory '83 defeated Canada I.
Final
Australia II defeated Victory '83 4-1 in the final to win the Louis Vuitton Cup and go on to compete in the America's Cup1983 America's Cup
The 1983 America's Cup was the occasion of the first winning challenge to the New York Yacht Club who had successfully defended the cup over a period of 132 years...
.