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Views on the 1983 Cup, 12 metres and the Yngling

Monday August 13th 2001, Author: Sian Cowen, Location: United Kingdom
From Graham Burrells
Where were you on that fateful day? I was at home in Sydney watching the race live on television. I was a very active sailor at the time. Hugh Treharne, Australia ll's tactician used to make the sails for Adams 10 metre that we raced with Middle Harbour Yacht Club. At about 3.30 am I went to bed very depressed with about two and a half legs to go the ugly red boat was well ahead of the little white pointer from down under and it looked like the bloody New York Yacht Club would retain the cup again.

Australians had never forgiven the NYYC for taking a race off Gretel 2 in 1971 when she was clearly the faster yacht. Half way up that second last leg my parents and I were woken by loud cheers coming from Middle Harbour Yacht Club.Through bleary eyes we watched the drama unfold. Firstly as Australia ll drew level and then took the lead. The last upwind leg to the finish was almost unbearable. we willed our boys through every tack hoping that nothing would go wrong and the champagne tasted fantastic when we got the gun.

I remember going to work that day wearing a T shirt bearing the slogan 'Stuff the New York Yacht Club'. The only thing that's come close to the feeling that day was being at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Later I managed to touch the Cup when the company I was working for made a movie about Australia ll's success. And yes I was in Fremantle in 1987 when we gave the cup back, but that didn't really seem too traumatic. We were still celebrating Australia ll's victory off Newport Rhode Island. Good Luck to Australia ll in the Jubilee regatta lets hope shes still the fastest 12 metre in the World.
From Rob Holmes

Where were you on that fateful day? In Western Australia, the home of Australia II, it must have been about 3:30 am when the race finished. We had hired a cottage, miles from anywhere on a lonely coast in the South West of our state, for a winter retreat of long walks and fireside evenings. We spent the dark hours listening on radio. The tension was unbearable as we had to rely on the commentary by Bruce Stannard who was, I think, doing a TV commentary and assuming his listeners could see what was going on. I'll never forget that moment, lying in bed in the pitch dark, realizing that Australia II had finally brought home the cup.

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