Australians are well aware of the America's Cup for there is no greater yachting prize than this, and it took on a whole new meaning when Australia II with its famed winged keel beat Liberty in that remarkable contest in 1983.
Down 3-1 with three races yet to contest, the Australians had to win all three to take the America's Cup, a trophy that had eluded contestants for a century. The Americans thought they owned the America's Cup and if they they couldn't win on the water there were always the courts as a last resort.
Australia II skipper John Bertrand knew all about the way the Americans played the game, hard ball. Was the winged keel a legitimate component for this Australia II yacht under the rules? This became a major issue.
Yet, Australia came to a stand still to watch Australia II take the fifth, sixth and finally the seventh race to wrest the America's Cup from the Americans.
Now, dread of dread, the Americans have won the America's Cup back, in this 159 year event after an absence of 15 years. The US team Oracle defeated the current defenders of the America's Cup, Swiss champions Alinghi two wins to nil, the best of three.
It's being held 20 nautical miles upwind and 20 back near the port of Valenica, Spain. The first race was cancelled due to lack of wind last Wednesday.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26724394-23218,00.html
One of Australia's royal families of yachting Hugh and Jeanine Treharne were part of that Australia II victory in 1983. Hugh was the tactician, the person who smells the wind and calls the direction for the yacht.
Jeanine Treharne tells her story of that America's Cup victory and the yachting pedigree of her extended family members along with 'her walk with the Lord' in a recent interview with the 'Australian Missionary News IPTV'.
http://tv.bushorchestra.com/Sport/videopages/jeanine_treharne.html