NOTE: (This article was supposed to have been written in September with a request to TPTB to publish on September 26. But, well, life, etc. Thus, almost two months later, I submit this memory of one of the most emotional days in Australian sport).
At 5:22pm Eastern American Time, September 26, 1983, two 12-meter racing yachts were engaged in a sailing duel on Rhode Island Sound. Half a world away, a nation watched their TVs in the early hours of September 27. They were waiting for the moment that a small puff of white smoke emerged from the mouth of a ceremonial cannon on the stern of a motor cruiser anchored in the Sound.
The road to that moment had been decades in the making. In 1851, members of the newly formed New York Yacht Club sailed their yacht America to the United Kingdom hoping to make some money winning regattas. On August 22 of that year, America beat all other competitors in the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Isle of Wight Regatta.
“America” winning the RYS Regatta, 1851.
“America” was awarded what became known as the America’s Cup (or the Auld Mug). Thus began the longest winning streak (by time) in sports’ history.
The_America’s_Cup (the Auld Mug)
Beginning in 1870, the NYYC defended the Auld Mug against 24 challenges. The class of yacht and the format of the series changed over time. Sometimes it was best of five, sometimes best of three. In 1956, the NYYC changed the format to 12-meter yachts racing in a best-of-seven series. From 1958 to 1980, there were eight challenges to the NYYC. The NYYC won all challenges, losing only two races total out of thirty-four. In those eight regattas, Australian yachts represented the challengers on six occasions (see here for a little bit on the challenger formats). But on only two occasions did the challengers win a single race. Of course, if you were in Australia, you knew the Yanks were cheating.* This was most obvious in 1980. That year, the NYYC beat the Royal Perth Yacht Club’s Australia 4-1. After two races, the series was tied 1-1. In one of the subsequent races, an Australian crewman fell overboard costing them the win. Obviously the yacht had been sabotaged by the Yanks. In another race, Australia won, but the victory was overturned on appeal – the appeal being heard by the NYYC.
Undeterred, the same Australian syndicate returned in 1983 with a new yacht named Australia II.
Australia II (KA-6)
This time, however, they’d done something revolutionary. Designer Ben Lexcen had come up with a winged keel for the new yacht. The NYYC, being true sportsmen, sought on multiple occasions to have this new design ruled illegal. Surprisingly all these efforts failed.
The Winged Keel
In the challenger trials, Australia II pretty much blew the opposition out of the water. They won the final round against a British challenger 4 races to 1. In the cup itself they came up against Liberty, skippered by Dennis Connor. Even with all the brouhaha over the keel, at first it seemed to make little difference. Liberty won the first two races fairly easily. Then Australia II won the third by the outrageous margin of 3 minutes plus. Dreams of justice and redemption burst in Australian hearts. This, of course, was a little weird. Australians generally despise the wealthy – there was something very odd about millions of middle- and working-class Australians longing for an Australian millionaire to defeat an American millionaire in a sport that, usually, no one cared about. But, there it was.
Dreams were quickly dispelled. In the fourth race, Liberty won by a comfortable margin. But, then, something odd happened: Australia II won Race 5. For the first time since the 1956 changes there was going to be a Race 6. It was duly won by Australia II, by an even bigger margin that it had won Race 3. Odd became unprecedented: a winner-take-all Race 7.
The national atmosphere was quite unreal. A song released by Glenn Shorrock (former lead singer of the Little River Band) titled “We’re Coming to Get You” had become a bestseller. The Boxing Kangaroo fight flag entered Australian legend, a place it occupies to this day. At the VFL Grand Final that afternoon, singer John Farnham led 100,000 footy fans in a “We’re With You Australia II” chant. Anti-climatically, the wind was not strong enough that day for the race to proceed. Instead it was to be sailed September 26 in Rhode Island (starting late that night Down Under, scheduled to finish early morning September 27).
Millions of Australians–including me and a mate–sat up to watch what we hoped would be history. The race started fairly even but, gradually, Liberty pulled ahead. My mate fell asleep but I stuck it out as the two yachts raced down to the final marker for the turn to the home leg – Liberty leading and seeming ready to, once again, destroy hope. Then, as the TV cameras began to pan out, myself and every Australia realized what was happening. Liberty, while ahead, was inside the marker buoy, meaning she would have to tack in order to come around the buoy as required. This meant Australia II could continue with full sail while Liberty would have to turn at right angles.** Could the righteous ones take the lead during that moment? Drum roll….
Indeed they could! Australia II headed up the final leg with a lead. Liberty, desperate, began a tacking duel, almost sailing into the spectator fleet (Australia II had to cover, just in case Liberty found a fresh breeze). After almost fifty tacks, skipper John Bertrand, judging his lead insurmountable, broke off the duel and headed for then finish line. Liberty followed, hoping for a miracle (or you know, an act of sabotage by the NYYC – EVERY Australian knew that could happen).
Then, in the early hours of September 27, 1983 in Australia, September 26 on Rhode Island Sound, Australia II rounded the NYYC’s committee boat and a small puff of white smoke came from that cannon. The NYYC’s 132-year winning streak – the longest in history – was ended.
It set off a wave of celebration across Oz akin to the end of a war. It’s considered one of the greatest moments in Australian sporting history. The Prime Minister appeared on TV declaring that any boss who fired someone for not showing up to work that day was “a bum.” Here’s one TV report on the win. It was celebrated in pubs, clubs, streets, everywhere. It became part of the cultural fabric of the nation.
Of course, an Australian triumph in 1983 could only be celebrated by one song (sorry Mr. Shorrock).
* Claims about cheating by the NYYC have been deemed partly true by fact-checkers.++
**Any historical details that differ with my 40-year old recollections are, of course, wrong.
++ Claims that cheating claims are partly true have been judged totally false by Glibertarians.com
Apologies to dbleagle for all the terminology errors in this story.
Liberty never wins.
Who shot Liberty Valance?
I thought they were undefeated this year, but not going to the playoffs.
The WNBA still exists?
Sloopy and Banjos may disagree!
Now, Australia goes after Don Bradman 20 years after his death for expressing wrongthought in a private letter.
Great story, I loved sailing, even if just a cat
I thought cats didn’t like water.
You never knew one of these?
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1f/b0/52/1fb0527e9b6c6b0a2410edc9f961af7f.png
Cat amarans
*lifts shirt to show remnants of the scar that used to run from armpit to waist. That mast stay plate on the Prindle 19 catamaran got me when my feet slipped (to be honest, I should have had the diaper hooked in to the hike out strap), but the wind was nukin’ and there was NO WAY I was ready to go back to the boathouse.
*also removes sock to show the scar where welding slag dropped into my wet moccasin while I welded the main halyard hook for that same Prindle 19 catamaran. Dude, the wind was nukin’! I wanted to get back out.
I LOVED that Prindle. Although it is still in the fleet of the YMCA camp that I worked at, it is showing its age. It has patches on top of patches.
Engrossing story and interesting how everyone sometimes makes a big deal out of sports we normally couldn’t care less about.
Like with most Olympic competitions. Dancing with ribbons anyone?
As seen in this documentary footage.
Anti-Firstites banned me from another website.
They can take my account, but they can never take…MY FIRSTS
I remember the uproar over the winged keel.
I have vague memories of hearing about “America’s Cup” back then and not giving the slightest shit. Enh, I was 14.
As though anything has changed since then.
Good telling of the tale. I saw an interview about a year ago about the race series. Bertrand still looks like a sailor, Connor looks like a haunted blimp.
Jimmy Buffet came up with this afterwards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTT2AehclcE
The USG helped Connor in the next series by letting him use the unheard of GPS.
I wondered if you were around to comment!
Thanks Raven Nation, I also remember following this when it was happening.
Real Aussies sail 18s.
Unlike Josh Giddey.
Of course, an Australian triumph in 1983 could only be celebrated by one song (sorry Mr. Shorrock).
Colin Hay emigrated to Australia from Scotland when he was 14.
OK… ok….
It is a good song.
* Claims about cheating by the NYYC have been deemed partly true by fact-checkers.++
**Any historical details that differ with my 40-year old recollections are, of course, wrong.
++ Claims that cheating claims are partly true have been judged totally false by Glibertarians.com
🙂
The appimage version of Cura did not throw any errors and did a test print just fine.
I’ve put a printed case around the raspberry pi to protect it from accidental contact.
Static is an issue for those raspberry pi computers. Definitely make sure you have a way to dissipate. Even better, avoid touching it during delicate operations.
Yep. Buy a ESD mat and wrist strap.
For a second I thought this post was about this guy (he’s in NZ not Australia).
He released government records on the internet that show the covid vax killed 1 in 1,000 people. So now they are going to crucify him.
There is no cannibalism in the Royal Navy!
The journalism problem is not confined to graduates of Columbia Univ.
The problem with the noble lie – which is what this boils down to – is the noble aspect is up for debate, the lie is not.
As always doing the wrong thing for the right reason is still wrong. Can’t walk down the path of hell just because you have good intentions and expect to arrive anywhere different.
This
You can safely assume that people, such as Hillary Clinton, do not believe in the concept of hell, therefore will NOT alter their behavior to escape some fictional after-life punishment.
Who said anything about changing their behavior?
Because Taibbi reminded me of it:
By the time you swear you’re his,
Shivering and sighing.
And he vows his passion is,
Infinite, undying.
Lady make note of this —
One of you is lying.”
― Dorothy Parker
I remember that!! I remember Connor wanted to bring a catamaran for the rematch?
That was in 1988. He won the challenge in 1987 in 12-meters. In 1988, New Zealand challenged San Diego with a 90 foot yacht. Conner responded with a massive catamaran and won 2-0.
Further trivia: 1983 is the only year to date that an Australian syndicate has won the cup.
One of Dennis Conner’s personal sail boats was a Melges A scow.
Our camp sailing program fleet was mostly M-16 scows (mostly Johnson’s, but a couple Melges), an M-20 scow, a couple of E-scows and several C-scows (I spit, real sailboats should have a jib (and maybe a spinnaker)).
Wow! What a Glib-tastic day for me. Sausage and Sailing.
Add in Sex, and I could almost die.
Wait a minute. The sausage part wasn’t about sex?
Pizza rolls have only two temps. Ice and lava.
This is true.
mail me some pizza rolls.
I apparently got quoted in thesun.com https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/9794543/wheel-of-fortune-winner-looks-like-yukon-cornelius/
Scroll down to the part where it says a user on X said…
But he doesn’t.
might as well send them a bikini pic
Great story, RN!
If anyone is ever in Sint Maarten, you can ride/race some of those 12 meter boats of that era, including Stars And Stripes ’86
https://www.12metre.com/our-boats
It was an awesome experience, even though we didn’t have enough people for more than one boat so couldn’t actually race.
It’s that time again.
🌄😉
Get out there and get at it!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FHSfyypZtag
🎶🎶
I’ll get out there but I ain’t promising any it getting at.
Update: I got out there, it’s cold and dark, I came back in.
🙂
Good morning all!
Here’s King Crimson to Fracture your day 😉
Good morning, Beau, Stinky, Teh Hype, Sean, and (somewhere up there) Lack!
Finally getting back to the local rec center for water aerobics tonight after several weeks off due to an infected ingrown toenail and, after it healed, inertia!
“Man dies on way home from Panera after having three “charged” lemonades”
https://arstechnica.com/health/2023/12/man-dies-on-way-home-from-panera-after-having-three-charged-lemonades/
That stuff managed to off some girl with a heart condition a couple of weeks ago. Personal responsibility and whatnot aside, seems like they’d nix it for liability’s sake and fear of getting sued if nothing else.
“But it’s CLEAN caffeine! It says so right on the sign!” 🙄
That reminds me….more coffee…
Morning all.
Good morning, Suthen!
*sips Americano* Morning Suthen
How do they know he had refills if they are self-serve? Did a Panera worker remember this person and the movements they had through the restaurant?
Makes sense
Oh..so was consuming more than just that one time he had ‘three’.
I’m not familiar with the setup, if you can get refills where all the other soft drinks are it does seem like it’s asking for trouble. Reasonably intelligent people would probably have the sense to avoid slamming too much of that shit down but it sounds like he wasn’t in that category…likely drank copious amounts of sodas and whatnot with no acute ill effects.
My guess it is driving sales so they will stand by it with the modifications they made. Such as, asking at the counter to get refills…but now you put the potential death on the worker for ‘not recognizing’ a person had too many?
Mornin’, Suthen.
Too much caffeine? Does not compute, but then I’ve been drinking coffee since Abuela put it in my bottle when I was an infant. Tolerance is a thing; alcoholics walk around with a BAL that would kill the average person.
If she could have lifted the cup of coffee in her frail last moments, my grandma would have exited this world with a belly full of coffee. Coffee in the AM? PM? Midnight snack? Yep.
I leave you with this wonderful Duncan Hills coffee jingle to get your morning started.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VFURd_EOIuU
WTF?
*raises mug*
“Moderation in all things. ” – Aristotle
Yeah…we dont take advice from some old white dude that’s like 100 years old.
“I will have a regular lemonade” – Me
I dont get the marketing for the energy drinks…target audience idiots? Teenagers? Ah, but I repeat myself.
And mornin’ to the rest of you merry reprobates!
Good morning, ‘patzie! Speaking of caffeine, how’s it shakin’?
Mornin’, GT.
Today is the big day; the app i have been developing/ supporting for six years will be officially sunsetted today. Appropriate, I guess, since I am pretty much done with working. Just playing out the string at this point.
Nice little hailstorm came through last night. It needs to snow already. I know I will grow to hate it, but let me be a kid for the first year here dammit!
Oh, there’ll be snow! Maybe not in time for Christmas, but soon enough!
Careful what you wish for 😉
Snowing here in upstate NY.
A fine dusting on objects outside – that is more snow than I had seen in NYC over the last 10 years.
I am still not sick of snow.
I am rooting for you.
Morning, Glibs.
Today’s not been that great so far. Woke up almost every hour overnight, only to oversleep when it finally came time to really get up. So I was out of bed a half hour after I should have left the house, and got to the office a half hour after the start of my workday.
On the plus side, the roads were salted, so the snow hasn’t made them slippery yet.
Mornin’, U. Still waiting for our first snowflake here.
We have some spares of you want them.
🙁 Sorry you got off to a bad start, but I hope your day’s much better from here on out!