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1973
Southern Cross is the first 12-metre designed by Ben Lexcen (formerly-Bob Miller). Lexcen does numerous model comparison tank tests against models of Gretel and Gretel II before he draws up the final hull lines. John Bertrand designs the rigging. Southern Cross has a greater waterline than usual, but poor windward stability. It is built for a 10 to 18 knot wind range.
1974
Southern Cross is launched in January. Gretel II and Southern Cross race at Yanchep. Both boats are shipped to Newport for trials. John Cueno and Jim Hardy alternate at the helm of the yachts, and finally, Alan Bond selects Hardy as Southern Cross' skipper.
Challenger selection trials are organised by the Royal Thames Yacht Club for August 22 to 28. Southern Cross races against France I and wins four times. The Australian yacht is selected as the official challenger for the 1974 America's Cup series
The America's Cup
September 10 to 17, 1974, off Newport, Rhode Island
Southern Cross competes against Courageous in the best of seven race series
Course
Olympic course - total distance: 24.3 miles.
Start: Buoy anchored 7 miles, SSE (magnetic) towards the Brenton Reef Light Tower.
First leg: directly into the wind (windward leg).
Second and third legs: reaching (across the wind)
Fourth leg: to windward (into the wind)
Fifth leg: running (with the wind)
Sixth and last leg: to windward to the finish.
Results
Courageous beat Southern Cross by four wins to nil!
- September 10, first race. Wind at start: 212°, 11 knots. Wind at finish: 222°, 7 knots. Courageous beats Southern Cross by four minutes and 54 seconds.
- September 12, second race. Wind at start: 237°, 11 knots. Wind at finish: 236°, 16 knots. Courageous beats Southern Cross by one minute and 11 seconds.
- September 16, third race. Wind at start: 305°, 12 knots. Wind at finish: 308°, 11 knots. Courageous beats Southern Cross by five minutes and 27 seconds.
- September 17, fourth race. Wind at start: 190°, 12 knots. Wind at finish: 214°, 12 knots. Courageous beat Southern Cross by seven minutes and 19 seconds.
Courageous beats Southern Cross by four wins to nil.
Except in the second race, Courageous crushes Southern Cross.
The Australians committed an error by using the 1970 challenger Gretel II as their yardstick, presumed faster than the 1967 challenger Intrepid. They did not consider that the new Intrepid might be slower than the 1967 version.
1975 - 1977
The Southern Cross America's Cup Challenge Association owns the boat. Its homeport is Yanchep and Fremantle, Western Australia.
In 1977, Southern Cross races as trial horse for Australia.
1978 - 1980
The Bond Corporation Pty. Ltd. own Southern Cross. Its homeport is Perth and Yanchep.
1993
Southern Cross is converted to a comfortable charter yacht. The refit takes two years.
1995
Sails as a charter vessel.
1999
Southern Cross has another refit to improve guest accommodation and sailing performance.
2005
Still sailing for charter. Southern Cross takes 14 to 20 guests and three crew members from Abel Point Marina, Australia.
Southern Cross
1974
Sail number: KA 4
International 12-metre rule sloop
Australia
Yacht club: Royal Perth Yacht Club, Perth, Australia
Unsuccessful challenger for the1974 America's Cup
Owner: Alan Bond - Dalhold Investments, Pty
Designer: Ben Lexcen (formerly Bob Miller)
Tank test facilities: University of Sydney
Builder: Halvorsen, Morson and Gowland Pty. Ltd., at Terry Hills, N.S.W., Australia
Sailmaker: Tasker, Australia
Rigging: Designed by John Bertrand
Year of building: 1973-74
Launched: January 12, 1974
Home port: Yanchep Sun City, Australia
Skipper: James G. Hardy
Afterguard: Norman Hyett, John Cueno (tactician) Jack Baxter (navigator), M. Packer (navigator), Hugh Treharn (tactician)
Crew: 11
Data
Construction: Aluminum alloy
Dimensions
Length overall (LOA): 20.5m
Length waterline (LWL): 14.25 m
Beam: 3.75m
Draft: 2.77m
Sail area: 163m2
Displacement: 27.550 tonnes
Mast: 25m
J.T./nc
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Year of building
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1974 |
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Launched
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12/1/1974 |
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Edition 22(1974)
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Crew
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11 |
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Hull
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Aluminium |
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Mast
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Aluminium |
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L.O.A
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20.5 |
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L.W.L
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14.25 |
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Mast
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25 |
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Beam
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3.75 |
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Boom
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|
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Sail Area
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|
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Displacament
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27.55 |
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Draft
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2.77 |
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Rating
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12 Meter |
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Ballast
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|
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