America's Cup legend - Australia II

In the build-up to the America's Cup Jubilee John Roberson looks back at the greatest moment in the Cup's history - Australia II's 1983 victory

Australia II today
The 'winged-keeled wonder' will make history again when she competes in the America's Cup Jubilee, and before that in Skandia Life Cowes Week. John Bertrand, who skippered her to victory in 1983 will be at the helm again for the Jubilee regatta.

During the America's Cup Jubilee most of her original 1983 crew will be sailing on board. In addition there will be Scott McAllister, who was bowman until he broke his arm when he was at the top of the mast when the backstay crane collapsed and crushed it, legendary Australian helm, Sir James Hardy, who was Australia II's back-up helmsman, and sailed about 10 races during the Louis Vuitton Cup. In addition there will be Rob Brown, who as a trimmer who did much of the Louis Vuitton Cup, but not the America's Cup and the infamous Warren Jones, manager of the challenge who in 1983 handled all the onshore battles with the New York Yacht Club.

Since her historic 1983 victory, Australia II has become a national icon, and an ongoing symbol of Australian sporting achievement. The ship that bought her back from America unloaded her on the east coast of Australia, and her delivery by truck back to Perth became a victory tour, with people lining the roads in every town she passed through.

After being used to tune up the new boats for the 1987 defence off Fremantle, the Australian government bought her, and a new National Maritime Museum was built in Sydney that would house her among the other exhibits. However the Western Australian state government successfully campaigned through the 90s for Australia II's return to her home, and having succeeded, are now building a new maritime museum on Fremantle's waterfront to accommodate her.

Australia II arrived at Tilbury docks aboard the P & O Nedlloyd's Contship Action late last week, her first visit to England, and almost certainly her last, as the Western Australian Maritime Museum is unlikely to let her out of their clutches again. Indeed it is only after considerable public pressure, and many assurances, that she has been allowed to make the journey to Cowes by the curators of the museum - who are understandably worryied about any damage that could devalue her historic status.