The Secret Weapon - Australia II's Winged Keel

So, here is Australia II and that secret weapon - the ‘winged keel’. Ben Lexcen the designer had already built two 12 metre challengers – Southern Cross and Australia but they were no match for the Americans. For the 1983 challenge Ben was ready to be radical. He had always been different. He had little formal education but was gifted with a brilliant if unconventional approach to yacht design. For Australia II he first focussed on the keel, the large underwater appendage that is essential to create stability and allow yachts to sail into the wind. But Ben turned conventional thought on its head and reversed the classic keel shape to create the ‘upside down keel’ with the wider and heavier part of the keel was at the bottom. This lowered the centre of gravity allowing, Australia II to be more upright and sail more efficiently. Ben Lexcen also focused on reducing the drag and loss of efficiency created by a conventional keel by adding tips or wings to the bottom of the keel to reduce turbulence - the same design idea that is used in the ends of modern airplane wings to improve airflow and lift.  But, any vessel, no matter how well designed, is only as good as the crew. Australia II’s crew formed a mighty team which believed in themselves and their yacht.