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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A large brightly lit gallery overlooking the water. The yacht Australia II is on one side and Jon Sanders' yacht is on the other. A stair leading to a walkway is in between.

Tin Canoe to Australia II Gallery

This gallery celebrates the incredible stories of people who have challenged nature and themselves as they ventured across the maritime world.

Visitors will see the Parry Endeavour, the yacht that took solo yachtsman Jon Sanders three times around the globe, and the Australia II, the racing yacht that won the America’s Cup from the United States in 1983.

Hero Objects

A 1980s computer mounted next to a glass display case, beneath the Australia II.

Australia II Computer

Crunching the Numbers

A white men's jacket with "Australia" and Australian iconography repeated over its entire surface.

Bob Hawke Jacket

America's Cup

An old blue milk carton labelled 'Masters Milk.' The expiry date is November 1983.

Milk Carton

America'a Cup

The Australia II on display in the gallery, the America's Cup replica in the foreground.

Australia II and America's Cup

Making History

The blue and white keel underneath the Australia II.

Australia II Winged Keel

Secret Keel Business

Wooden sail boat

Evelyn IV

The Skiff that Jack Built

At the far end of the Museum near the water is a large yacht tilted at an extreme angle, a mannequin clinging to the mast.

Parry Endeavour

Jon Sanders

corrugated tin canoe

Tin Canoe

Tinnies

1980s panel van

Panel Van

What is a panel van doing here?

Deep Dives

From the Swan River gallery walkway, viewing the Australia II yacht with the ocean through the large windows beyond is a highlight of the Museum.

Museum walking tour

Take the VSO tour

More Info

A small canoe made of tin is lifted about waist level off the floor of the Museum.

Splashing about in boats - the tin canoe

Making your own fun - the tin canoe

Article

Against the Museum's wall mounted on a long wooden platform on the floor is a small wooden yacht with one sail.

A Growing Sport - Evelyn IV and Yacht Racing

Racing in Evelyn IV - a smart yacht, but what gave her an edge?

Article

A white beer coaster, discoloured with age. A yacht is depicted. Text reads "Swan Lager: Winning the world over. Official sponsor, America's Cup Challenge 1983."

Playing the Long Game - Australia's America's Cup Challenges

The long road to final victory - winning the America's Cup

Article

A grinning Jon Sanders holds up white sacks of mail on the deck of the yacht.

Playing the Long Game - Jon Sanders

Between the devil and the deep blue sea - Jon Sanders' moment of greatest peril

Article

At the far end of the Museum near the water is a large yacht tilted at an extreme angle, a mannequin clinging to the mast.

Playing the Long Game - Jon Sanders

Ouch! Parry Endeavour's bump on the nose

Article

A photo taken from the front of the yacht shows the choppy sea beyond the metal railing.

Playing the Long Game - Jon Sanders

Parry Endeavour – the story of a record breaker

Article

The Australia II sails the water, its sail showing a large logo of the Western Australian Maritime Museum.

The Triumphant Challenger - Australia II

A national treasure- Australia II

Article

A large ornate silver trophy cup behind curved glass.

The Triumphant Challenger - Australia II

Everywhere you looked it was Australia II.

Article

The blue and white keel underneath the Australia II.

The Secret Weapon - Australia II's Winged Keel

Yachting's greatest secret revealed - the winged keel

Article

A white men's jacket with "Australia" and Australian iconography repeated over its entire surface.

Any boss who sacks a worker for not coming in today

Celebration of triumph. Yes, it really is 'that jacket', but was it Bob Hawke's?

Article

A typewritten memo with the Australian Government logo and heading "Prime Minister."

A letter from Reagan

Ronald Reagan's message to Bob Hawke

Article

A friendly Museum staff member next to the dramatically leaning yacht in the gallery.

International Museum Day - WA Maritime Museum

The Parry Endeavour

Video

A friendly Museum staff member telling us about tin canoe, while standing next to it in the gallery.

Tin Canoe

Distant Discoveries

Video

A friendly Museum staff member next to the famous Bob Hawke jacket.

Australia II's 1983 America's Cup Win

Distant Discoveries

Video

Jon Sanders sitting on the deck of the yacht, look at the distance through binoculars.

Interview with Jon Sanders

Oral history

More Info

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

Australia II

Photogallery

Gallery

Jon Sanders waving from the back of a yacht in harbour, in front of an Australian flag.

Jon Sanders

Photogallery

Gallery

An orange sailboat leans over in heavy waves.

Great Ocean Experience

Video

Video

A large brightly lit gallery overlooking the water. The yacht Australia II is on one side and Jon Sanders' yacht is on the other. A stair leading to a walkway is in between.

Australia II.
Credit: Michael Haluwana

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.