25th AMERICA's CUP 1983 Newport, Rhode Island, USA
Fremantle , Australia
For the first time the United States
respectively an American yacht club were
forced to challenge for the Louis Vouitton Cup.
Dennis Conner, the loser of 1983, negotiated
with the NYYC about his next race, but
changed without result- and also because of
the better sponsors - to the San Diego YC on
the West Coast
He won the LVC winning in a further
consequence the AC as well.
In Australia four syndicates, announced their
interest to defend the AC. In the Defender
Selection Series, they had to identify their official defender. Winner was no more the team of Alan Bond
and his Australia IV, but that of the newcomer Kevin Perry with Kookaburra III.
But these yacht lost the AC again. A new syndicate from New Zealand , financed by the banker Michael
Fay, won all the races of the LVC and lost only the final against D. Conner. Their Kiwi Magic (KZ-7) was the
first 12m with a fibreglass hull rather than the conventional aluminium alloy construction. Therefore
Conner tried by every means to eliminate KZ-7 before the race from the AC. Although the team had an
approval by Lloyd's, the official specification body at that time. With this actions he laid the roots of the
violent conflicts around the AC 1988.
After the victory of Australia II with its revolutionary winged keel this design became a model for the 12m
constructions in 1987. Many winged keels were similar the Australia II. Significant exceptions were the
USA 1, the Eagle, Courageous IV and to some extend the French Kiss.
The winged keel of US- 55 with its
banner of a main sponsor - quickly
mounted for the Press
AMERICA’S CUP HISTORY 1983 - 2013
The 26th America's Cup 1987