Gretel II

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Gretel II
Yacht clubBurgee of rsys.svg  Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
NationCivil Ensign of Australia.svg  Australia
Class 12-metre
Sail noKA-3
Designer(s)Alan Payne
BuilderW. H. Barnett
Owner(s) Sir Frank Packer
Racing career
Skippers James Hardy
Gordon Ingate
America's Cup1970
1977
Specifications
Crew John Bertrand

Gretel II (KA-3) is an International 12-metre class racing yacht built for the America's Cup challenge series in 1970. She was designed by Alan Payne and built by W.H. Barnett for Australian media tycoon Sir Frank Packer.

Contents

Packer had first challenged for the America's Cup in 1962 with the yacht Gretel , which was named after his wife. Gretel was competitive but lost that challenge 4–1.

1970 America's Cup

In 1970 Packer returned to Newport, Rhode Island to challenge again for the 'Auld Mug' with his new 12-metre yacht Gretel II representing the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. This yacht was the last of the wooden-hulled America's Cup yachts. [1] Gretel II was skippered by Jim Hardy with Martin Visser as tactician and starting helmsman and Bill Fesq as navigator. The crew included future Olympic Star class gold medallists David Forbes and John Anderson and future America's Cup–winning skipper John Bertrand as port trimmer. [2]

After defeating Baron Marcel Bich’s France in the challenger selection series 4–0, the Australian yacht took on the American defender Intrepid , skippered by Bill Ficker in a best-of-seven race series.

Intrepid won the first race when Gretel II's David Forbes was swept overboard but managed to hang onto the sail and scramble back on board. [3] Then in a controversial second race, Gretel II crossed the finish line 1 minute 7 seconds ahead, but due to a collision at the start the Australian challenger was disqualified. Intrepid won the third race but Gretel II recorded a win in the fourth race by a margin of 1 minute 2 seconds. Intrepid then took out the fifth race to win the America's Cup 4–1.

Many observers, such as 1977 America's Cup winning skipper Ted Turner, believed that Gretel II was a faster boat than Intrepid but that the tactical cunning of Bill Ficker and Steve Van Dyke and the performance of the American crew were the deciding factors in the Americans' victory. [4]

1977 America's Cup

Gretel II served as a trial horse for Alan Bond’s Southern Cross in the 1974 America's Cup. In the 1977 America's Cup Gretel II, skippered by Gordon Ingate, was one of four yachts vying to challenge for the Cup. Her wooden decking was replaced with aluminium for the new campaign. Ingate had a veteran crew which earned them the nickname 'Dad's Navy'. The yacht was eliminated by their Swedish rival Sverige during the challenger selection trials. The new Alan Bond yacht Australia won the right to challenge but lost to the Americans.

Decades later, after falling into disrepair, Gretel II was restored by a group of yachting enthusiasts in 2009. She is currently berthed at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and steered by Steven Shield.

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">12 Metre</span> International racing sailing class

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The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-sixth challenge for the America's Cup.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Louis Vuitton Cup</span>

The 3rd Louis Vuitton Cup was held in San Diego, United States in 1992. The winner, Il Moro di Venezia, went on to challenge for the 1992 America's Cup.

The 2nd Louis Vuitton Cup was held in Fremantle, Western Australia in 1987. The winner, Stars & Stripes, went on to challenge for and win the 1987 America's Cup.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1962 America's Cup</span>

The 1962 America's Cup, the second to be sailed in 12-metre yachts, marked the first challenge for the Cup from a country other than Great Britain or Canada, and was the first challenge from a country in the southern hemisphere. An Australian syndicate headed by Sir Frank Packer, representing the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, challenged with their yacht Gretel. Although the New York Yacht Club won the regatta four races to one represented by the yacht Weatherly, the challenger, Gretel won the second race, beating the Americans for the first time since the 1930s, and only lost the fourth race by twenty-six seconds. The NYYC was so shocked at the closeness of the contest that they immediately changed the rules to ban the use of American design and technology by Cup challengers.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 America's Cup</span>

The 1970 America's Cup was held in September 1970 at Newport, Rhode Island. The US defender, Intrepid, skippered by Bill Ficker, defeated the Australian challenger, Gretel II, skippered by James Hardy, four races to one.

The 1974 America's Cup was held in September 1974 at Newport, Rhode Island. The US defender, Courageous, skippered by Ted Hood, defeated the Australian challenger, Southern Cross, skippered by James Hardy, in a four-race sweep.

The 1970 Herbert Pell Cup was held in Newport, Rhode Island, United States in 1970. The winner, Gretel II, was awarded the Herbert Pell Cup and went on to challenge for the 1970 America's Cup. This was the first time a challenger's selection series was held, previously the New York Yacht Club had accepted a direct challenge for the America's Cup.

The 1977 Herbert Pell Cup was held in Newport, Rhode Island, United States in 1977. The winner, Australia, was awarded the Herbert Pell Cup and went on to challenge for the 1977 America's Cup.

The 1980 Herbert Pell Cup was held in Newport, Rhode Island, United States in 1980. The winner, Australia, was awarded the Herbert Pell Cup and went on to challenge for the 1980 America's Cup.

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References

  1. ↑ 'A star reborn' - Sails (magazine) - October 2011 - Author: Peter Campbell
  2. ↑ 'Born to win: a lifelong struggle to capture the America's Cup' - John Bertrand and Patrick Robinson (Hearst Marine Books, 1985) - pg 271
  3. ↑ 'About the America's Cup' - Vernon Hines – (Bookcliff Publishing Company, 1986) – pg 82
  4. ↑ 'The America's Cup Yachts: The Rhode Island Connection' - Richard V. Simpson - (Arcadia Publishing, 1999) - pg 119
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