Spirit of Australia Challenge was the syndicate of Ian
Murray, at 24 the youngest skipper of an AC on the
underfunded Advance / 1983 and the talented organizer
of Kevin Perry's fleet of Kookaburra I-III / 1987.
AUS-21 is a construction Murray's, who was by the way
heavily involved for the elaboration of the IACC formula.
Originally, in 1992 a collaboration with Alan Bond
(Australia II / 1983) was planned, but failed due to Bonds
private financial turbulences and legal turmoil.
Murray managed the initial financing through the support
of approximately 15,000 people before major sponsors,
such as Qantas joined the syndicate.
The yacht could not convince in the LVC .but it belongs to
the IACCs finest boats ever built. The yacht had a tandem
keel with a lead bulb and no rudder.
Later she got a conventional fin and a rudder. In the
summer of 2004 the yacht roamed - sponsored by the
"Financial Times" - with tourists in Sydney Harbour a
rock, lost the keel and capsized spectacularly. There were
no serious injured.
Spirit of Austrlia (AUS-21) resigned after the RR3
of the LOUIS VUITTON CUP (LVC) from 1992
Spirit of Australia Challenge was the syndicate of Ian
Murray, at 24 the youngest skipper
AMERICA’S CUP HISTORY 1983 - 2013
