The Western Australian Museum acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of their ancestral lands, waters and skies.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this digital guide may include images, sounds, and names of now deceased persons.

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Two yachts sailing quickly beside one another, the Australia II is just ahead of the American yacht.

Australia II

Photogallery

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A muscular man in a singlet stands near the bow of a yacht pulling on rigging.
Kevin Parry’s Kookaburra defeated Australia IV for the right to defend the Cup.
Credit: Roger Garwood
Sailors give a thumbs up to the camera from the deck of a yacht named "Stars & Stripes."
Dennis Connor and crew celebrate victory.
Credit: Roger Garwood
A large crowd almost entirely covers the rocks. A handwritten sign in the centre reads "well done Dennis, you bastard."
Crowd of supporters on the Fremantle Harbour mole for the final race.
Credit: Sally Sammins
A man in a white sailor's uniform and hat holds the cord of the starting cannon, on the deck of a boat.
Dr Stan Reid, Chairman of the Royal Perth’s Yacht Club's America’s Cup Committee, prepared to fire the starting cannon for Australia’s 1987 defence. The starting cannon is on display in the Museum.
Credit: Sally Sammins
Two men in businesswear observe a large yellow model of the keel suspended in the air above a large water tank.
Ben Lexcen spent four months testing large models in the towing tank at the Netherlands Ship model basin. So secret was this testing that telexes home to Australia referred to it only as the ‘Darth Vader’ keel. Keeping the secret of the revolutionary winged keel was vital to Australia II’s victory.
Credit: Peter Oossnanen
Photograph by Roger Garwood.
Photograph by Roger Garwood.
Photograph by Roger Garwood.
On the deck of the yacht, two crew hold a pistol-shaped tool and a sextant with grins on their faces. Behind them a third man relaxes, lying on the deck.
The old and the new! Australia II crew at sea. Bowman Damien Fewster (left) holds a sextant similar to those used for centuries by maritime navigators. Will Baillieu (right) points the modern pistol-like instrument that gives instant digital compass bearings.
Credit: Rob Brown
Two young women in 1980s clothing, both with cigarettes, are perched at the edge of a boat's deck. One has an arm around the other as they chat.
Supporters at Newport.
Credit: WA Museum
Two yachts sailing quickly beside one another, the Australia II is just ahead of the American yacht.
Australia II and Liberty (the American yacht) face-off. Newport, Rhode Island, 26 September 1983. America’s Cup Race 7.
Credit: Dan Nerney, MHD 0107/1 HR
Australia II is about two boat lengths ahead of the other yacht as it approaches the orange buoy.
Australia II rounds the buoy to victory! Newport, Rhode Island, 26 September 1983. America’s Cup Race 7.
Credit: Dan Nerney, MHD 0107/50
The blue and white keel is suspended above the water's surface. Ben perches on the keel's side, gripping the back of it to avoid falling in the water.
Ben Lexcen inspects the famous winged keel on Australia II.
Credit: WA Museum, MHD 0107-11
American tourists sitting on a boat with a giant United States flag in the background.
Australia II’s famous victory brought a renewed interest in the America’s Cup.
Credit: Mike Lefroy
A blimp with the logo "Swan Premium" hovers above a large group of vessels on the water, from small boats to large ships.
Aerial view of the America’s Cup course off Fremantle, January 1987. People watched on land, at sea and even in the sky. Even from a blimp!
Credit: Roger Garwood
A sign reading "America's Cup! Rooms to let," followed" by two phone numbers with area codes 330 and 339.
With tourist flocking to Fremantle, accommodation was in high demand.
Credit: Roger Garwood
Anti-Australia Cup signs painted on a local shop window. Signs read "Cup sails (spelled S. A. I. L.) sink rug sales (S. A. L. E.)" Another reads, "Cup free zone."
Millions of Federal Government dollars poured into Fremantle. Rents skyrocketed. And the tourists flocked in. But not everyone was happy.
Credit: Roger Garwood
A muscular man in a singlet stands near the bow of a yacht pulling on rigging.
Sailors give a thumbs up to the camera from the deck of a yacht named "Stars & Stripes."
A large crowd almost entirely covers the rocks. A handwritten sign in the centre reads "well done Dennis, you bastard."
A man in a white sailor's uniform and hat holds the cord of the starting cannon, on the deck of a boat.
Two men in businesswear observe a large yellow model of the keel suspended in the air above a large water tank.
Photograph by Roger Garwood.
On the deck of the yacht, two crew hold a pistol-shaped tool and a sextant with grins on their faces. Behind them a third man relaxes, lying on the deck.
Two young women in 1980s clothing, both with cigarettes, are perched at the edge of a boat's deck. One has an arm around the other as they chat.
Two yachts sailing quickly beside one another, the Australia II is just ahead of the American yacht.
Australia II is about two boat lengths ahead of the other yacht as it approaches the orange buoy.
The blue and white keel is suspended above the water's surface. Ben perches on the keel's side, gripping the back of it to avoid falling in the water.
American tourists sitting on a boat with a giant United States flag in the background.
A blimp with the logo "Swan Premium" hovers above a large group of vessels on the water, from small boats to large ships.
A sign reading "America's Cup! Rooms to let," followed" by two phone numbers with area codes 330 and 339.
Anti-Australia Cup signs painted on a local shop window. Signs read "Cup sails (spelled S. A. I. L.) sink rug sales (S. A. L. E.)" Another reads, "Cup free zone."
Two yachts sailing quickly beside one another, the Australia II is just ahead of the American yacht.

Australia II and Liberty (the American yacht) face-off. Newport, Rhode Island, 26 September 1983. America’s Cup Race 7.
Credit: Dan Nerney, MHD 0107/1 HR

The Western Australian Museum acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of their ancestral lands, waters and skies.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this digital guide may include images, sounds, and names of now deceased persons.