Yacht racing icon Australia II arrives at its permanent home

19/7/02
The racing yacht Australia II today arrived at its permanent home, Fremantle's new Maritime Museum, and was placed in the 30m high gallery space that was constructed specifically to display the national icon.
Culture and the Arts Minister Sheila McHale said the newly constructed $36.5million museum was a fitting home for the yacht involved in the most famous moment in Australian yachting history.
Australia II was the first yacht to win the America's Cup from the New York Yacht Club, which had held the cup for 132 years.
The significant victory took place in 1983.
After the historical win, the yacht was displayed at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney but was returned to Perth after participating in the America's Cup 150th Jubilee celebrations off Cowes on the Isle of Wight in August, 2001.
Ms McHale said the yacht had been in storage awaiting placement in the new museum.
"The yacht will be the star attraction of the maritime museum scheduled to open in December," she said.
"It will be set up to capture the defining moment in the historic race.

"More than a static display, visitors will have the opportunity to crank a coffee grinder winch to see what it would have felt like when the crew tacked 47 times in the last leg of the race to preserve Australia II's lead over Liberty.
"The museum will also play a pivotal role in the preservation of the yacht.
"It is important that the yacht is preserved as part of Australia's sporting history and cultural heritage."
The Australia II will be one of many displays at the museum.
Already placed in the museum is the Parry Endeavour, the yacht that took lone yachtsman Jon Sanders around the world three times.
It has been suspended at a steep angle to re-create what Mr Sanders experienced when the yacht was on a 30m wave during a storm off the Cape of Good Hope.
Minister's office: 9213 6900