Has Australia Lost the America's Cup?
Crowded around a 30cm (or 12 inch) Rank Arena colour television set in the early hours of the 26th of September 1983 my family and I watched the greatest race in Australia's history. It was race 7 of the America's Cup with Australia II taking on Liberty. And we won. I was 14 years old, in year 8 at high school, had no idea about sailing, and had been told by our Prime Minister that I could have the day off (school)! It was, perhaps, that event that started my interest in sailing. It was the first televised race of the America's Cup. But what's happened to the footage? 
'Australia II wins America's Cup - 26th September 1983'
In "The Age" newspaper Tim Lane reported (11/2/2006) a New Years Day poll by ABC Radio had revealed the Australia II's victory in the 1983 America's Cup was considered to be Australia's greatest ever sporting moment.
This was quite amazing as only six of the polls "greatest ever" moments were before 1990 - and neither Don Bradman or Phar Lap rated a mention! So why does it stick in our memory?
The answer seems to be because "we" were the little guy - taking on a superpower. The odds against us seemed overwhelming. I can vividly remember staying up late to watch the "Steve Vizard Show" to see Alan Bond handed a gold plated spanner to be used to undo the nuts bolting "The Cup" to its place at the New York Yacht Club.
I can recall regular news of challenges about the legality of Australia II's keel; let alone the mystery of the keel itselt. I can still feel dread at the thought of the skipper and crew going out to face the defenders being 3-1 down. And the Aussies fighting their way back to a winner-take-all race seven.
In hindsight this was Sylvester Stallone's movie Rocky (1976) on water. IMDB has the plotline for Rocky as "A small time boxer gets a once in a lifetime chance to fight the heavyweight champ in a bout in which he strives to go the distance for his self-respect". Just replace "small time boxer" with "a bunch of Aussie sailors" and you've got a blockbuster.
So, with all these elements you'd think there would have been an effort made to preserve the footage. But apparently not.
Over the last five years I've tried to obtain a full copy of the race. For younger readers you have to remember that this was before the time that video recorders became household items. In 1983 the Betamax and VHS war wasn't even on the radar in Australia. And if these too are foreign to you, then it was bit like the HD-DVD and Bluray war!
Anyway, I've tried inter-library loans - there's an audio recording in the Australian National Library but no one's allowed to listen to it because it's too precious - and despite numerous calls to television stations in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth it seems they all only have the puff of smoke from the finish boat.
I've tried the Royal Perth Yacht Club, the New York Yacht Club, and all sorts of sports library resellers and broadcasters all over the world. All to no avail.
From posts I've received many other yachties would like to watch the entire race again. So has Australia really lost the footage to our greatest sporting victory?
To lose such an important piece of our history would be an enormous loss.
This race is a national treasure.
by Peter Edwards
Bermagui, NSW
