The Challenge | |
---|---|
Written by | David Phillips |
Directed by | Chris Thomson |
Starring | John Wood John Diedrich John Clayton |
Country of origin | Australia |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producers | Tristram Miall Bob Loader |
Running time | 287 mins |
Budget | $4.5 million [1] |
Original release | |
Release | 29 December 1986 – 24 March 1987 |
The Challenge is a 1986 Australian mini series based on the 1983 America's Cup. [1] [2]
It was one of the first television productions by Roadshow Coote and Carroll. The series sold well overseas and screened in the UK. [3]
Australia II is an Australian 12-metre-class America's Cup challenge racing yacht that was launched in 1982 and won the 1983 America's Cup for the Royal Perth Yacht Club. Skippered by John Bertrand, she was the first successful Cup challenger, ending a 132-year tenure by the New York Yacht Club.
George Robert Lazenby is a retired Australian actor. He was the third actor to portray the fictional British secret agent James Bond in the Eon Productions film series, playing the character in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969). Since he appeared in only one film, Lazenby's tenure as Bond is the shortest among the actors in the series.
Benjamin Lexcen AM was an Australian yachtsman and marine architect. He is famous for the winged keel design applied to Australia II which, in 1983, became the first non-American yacht to win the prestigious America's Cup in 132 years.
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The 1983 America's Cup was a 12-metre class yacht racing series which pitted the defending New York Yacht Club's Liberty against the Royal Perth Yacht Club's challenger, Australia II. The September 1983 series of match races was won by Australia II, with four race wins to three, in the first successful challenge of the New York Yacht Club's 132-year defense of the Cup. The Australian syndicate's boat, skippered by John Bertrand, fought back from a 3–1 deficit to best the Dennis Conner-helmed defender, ending both the longest winning streak in sporting history and U.S. domination of the racing series.
The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-sixth challenge for the America's Cup.
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