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I sailed my boat out of Newport to the Americas Cup race grounds the last two weeks of September 83 when we lost the cup. I have a great picture of Australia II going by me under sail with John Bertrand looking under his sail to be sure he didn't hit me as he flew by when everyone had to move do to the course change caused by a wind shift. Its a perfect picture.
I also have a picture of Liberty , our losing boat US40 being towed into newport after its 3rd lose.
The Australia II was a far superior boat than any cup boat built previously. Yes the winged keel was famous but there were many other superior features of that boat. liberty on the other hand was the first (or second maybe) non Sparkman and Stebens design and it was a complete dog. The inside word in Newport at the time was that liberty could not even reliably beat Freedom the boat from a few years before and the last to successfully defend the cup for the NYYC. There was grumbling that they should just abandon Liberty and try to win with Freedom agaim but the 30 some million spent to develop liberty was such a political anchor around their neck that they had to go with it. Dennis conner knew he could never beat Australia II with Liberty but luck almost saved us when Australia II have many mechanical problems and also a broken mast during a race which eventually lead to a final 7th race with all the marbles on the line. I sailed out for the race but there was no wind that day and the race was postponed. I had to be at work the following Monmday so from the race grounds (way out there) I simply sailed back the 100 miles to CT and had to listen to the 7th race on the radio at work. we lost. That was the end of an era for the Americas Cup races and for Newport. Shortly after that lose the waterfront in Newport changes with all the boat yard space used for the cup challenges and races being eventually commercially developed for shopping plazas or condo.
It was a great 2 weeks in newport though. the Aussies are a bunch of party anumals and the town was rocking through the trials and the final races.
As was said above , the Cup Races turned into a fiasco as the rules got all screwed up and there were Cats racing mono hulls which was stupid , etc , etc. I will say that the first defense held in Australia after they beat us was an exceptionally good event and was run well with many great boats from aroud the world.
Most people hated Dennis Connor but the fact is that if two boats were at all evenly matched he could beat you in his boat and then swap boats and beat you in your boat. he was a great comnpetitive sailor but I guess not the most charismatic person.
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