1959
Australian press magnate Frank Packer announces his challenge for the America's Cup. He charters, for four years, the American 12-metre Vim (1939, Olin J. Stephens' design) that previously sailed as the trial horse for Columbia, the 1958 defender.

1960
Packer selects designer Alan Payne, who has carefully studied Vim's lines. Payne conducts tank tests at the Stevens Institute in New York.

1961
In May, Payne presents to Packer the drawings for the first Australian twelve after testing 30 models before deciding on the final hull form.

Construction of the boat gets underway at Lars Halvorsen's yard in July.

1962
The first ever Australian 12-metre is launched on February 19, seven months before the first America's Cup race.
The boat is christened Gretel nine days later on February 28, in memory of Frank Packer's late wife.
In March, Gretel sails on Sydney Harbour against Vim and proves quicker than her model suggests.
Gretal and Vim are sent to the United States at the end of May.
Both boats arrive in New York on July 14, two months before the Cup. Packer is unable to motivate his team because he is indecisive and too severe.

The America's Cup

September 15 to 25, 1962, off Newport, Rhode Island.

Gretel races against the American 12-metre Weatherly in the best of seven series.

Course

South of Newport, starting from the America's Cup buoy anchored nine miles SSE of the Brenton Reef Lightship.

Two alternate courses.
One triangular (eight nautical miles each leg) for races 2, 4 and 6 (distance: 24 nautical miles).
The other windward-leeward course for races 1, 3, 5 and 7 is six nautical miles per leg, twice around the course (distance: 24 nautical miles).

Results

Weatherly beats Gretel by four wins to one

September 15, first race sailed on windward-leeward course, two laps. Wind: 290 degrees, 10 knots. Weatherly beats Gretel by three minutes and 46 seconds.
September 18, second race sailed on triangular course. Wind: 285 degrees, 20-25 knots. Gretel beats Weatherly by 47 seconds.
September 20, third race sailed on windward-leeward course, two laps. Wind: 010 degrees, 9-12 knots. Weatherly beats Gretel by eight minutes and 40 seconds.
September 22, fourth race sailed on triangular course. Wind: 175 degrees, 8-10 knots. Weatherly beats Gretel by 26 seconds.
September 25, third race sailed on windward-leeward course, two laps. Wind: 245 degrees, 8-10 knots. Weatherly beats Gretel by three minutes and 40 seconds.

Weatherly, heavier than Gretel, is the first defender to lose a race and to win by just 47 seconds since 1934. The Australian's performance impresses the Americans. Gretel is admired for its downwind pace, although excellent crew work and a remarkable skipper ensure Weatherly retains the Cup. After the Cup, the Americans decide to prevent future challengers from obtaining their technology.

1966
Payne modifies Gretel.

1967
Gretel sails as the trial horse for Dame Pattie, the second Australian challenger.

1970
Gretel sails as the trial horse for Gretel II, in Australia.

1973 - 1974
Sir Frank Packer sells Gretel to the Yantchep Estates, Pty., Ltd. Its homeport becomes Perth and Yantchep.

1974 - 1975
Gretel is bought by "The Southern Cross America's Cup Challenge, Ltd." headed by Alan Bond in order to sail as the trial horse for Southern Cross.

1976 - 1979
The Gretel Syndicate take ownership of Gretel She is sailed for charter and its home port is Yantchep, then Port Melbourne, Victoria and Sydney.

1983-1999
Gretel sails for charter in North Queensland.

1999
Gretel sails as a charter vessel in Sydney.

2002
Gretel is bought by a European fan and shipped to Italy for a complete restoration.

J.T.

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