25th AMERICA's CUP 1983 Newport, Rhode Island, USA
1983 was the first year when the Australian
businessman and off-shore sailing legend Syd Fischer
entered the LVC respectively the AC. He shares with the
British tea mogul Thomas Lipton the record of five
challenges (1983,1987,1992,1995,2000).
The famous designer Alan Payne drew already the fast
Gretel, the final challenger of 1962 (versus Weatherly )
and Gretel II the finalist of 1972 (vs. Intrepid ).
The challenger Advance did not perform well as the
syndicate could not raise enough money, even not for
the research budget. Payne had for example a budget
of 60.000 $ compared with 500.000 $ for Ben
Lexcen’s Australia II.
The yacht was difficult to manoeuvre and got by her
young crew the nicknames “dog” and “good dog”. Iain
Murray was with his 24 years the youngest ever helmsman of a cup.
All the crew was highly motivated and praised but suffered on experience, time and money. They even
had difficulties to finance the hauling and cleaning of the hull or their accommodation in Newport.
Advance won 2 races and lost 22. She left already the LVC in the Round Robin B together
with France 3.
KA-7 Advance left the LVC 1983 already the LVC in the
Round Robin B together with France 3.
1983 was the first year when the Australian
businessman and off-shore sailing legend Syd Fisher
AMERICA’S CUP HISTORY 1983 - 2013
