The return of Lionheart

Ready for the America's Cup Jubilee Britain's 1980 British challenger is sitting in front of her old berth at the Royal Southern YC

Lionheart K18 was the British challenger in the 1980 America's Cup in Newport, Rhode Island. She was known as the people's boat as she was formed by the British Industry 1500 Club which put together the money from various businesses for the campaign. When the BI 1500 Club failed to generate enough money this led to two women, Elizabeth Jowett and Heather Twiss of the RSYC raising the extra needed through merchandising and from individual donations of £1500.

The black and gold boat turned up in Newport with a little secret. It had a unique flexible mast. The top two metres would bend backwards which made the sail area much more efficient. This was of huge interest to the other challengers and within a week the Australians had copied the Brits. The Aussies used this idea again in the design of Australia II which went on to win the 1983 America's Cup.

Lionheart's main backer was businessman and entrepreneur Peter de Savary. Although she was unsuccessful in the 1980 campaign she became the training boat along with Australia for de Savary's next Cup campaign in 1983 with Victory 82. Lionheart then stayed on in the States.

A Cincinnati businessman called Harry Graves bought her 18 years ago. She lay stripped of all her deck fittings and rig for a further 13 years under a tree in Cove Haven marina, Rhode Island. Graves was then inspired by the idea of the America's Cup Jubilee and had her restored back to the spectacular racing machine that she is today.

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