25th AMERICA's CUP 1983 Newport, Rhode Island, USA
Yacht / Country : USA (R-1) / USA Sail Number : 12 US-61Syndicate : Golden Gate Challenge San FranciscoCEO : Ron YoungYacht Club: St. Francis Yacht ClubDesigner : Gary Mull, Alberto CalderonBoat Builder : Robert E. Derector Ship Yards, N.YSkipper: Tom Blackaller
USA / US-61 had to leave the LVC already after the semi-finals as she had lost against US-55.But she was the most extraordinary yacht during this campaign. Instead of the usual winged keel she had already a fin with a torpedo-shaped lead ballast. With a forward canard-rudder she improved her steer-ability. R 1 was her nickname for “Revolutionary”.Today she is in top condition. The new owners published one the best home-pages about the 12m class..http://www.usa-61.com * showed in many images her restoration, contained a lot of information about the 12m class and some biography about the self-made-man Tom Blackaller, an easy-living character and the intimal rival of Dennis Conner. When he skippered 1983 the Defender he was called “the man with the quick tongue and the slow boat”.After the Cup US-61 sailed until 2005 in the Meditarian Sea under the name “Ecosse” with her home port in Monaco. Then she was sold to the States. But rumours say hat she has been sold again. * has been closed down end of 2011
But she was the most extraordinary yacht during this campaign. Instead of the usual winged keel she had