Australia II Painted Model Yacht XL

Designed by Ben Lexcen, built by Stephan Ward, owned by Alan Bond and helmed by John Bertrand, the Australia II featured an innovative winged keel design developed by Lexcen. This helped to make it very fast and maneuverable in many conditions, and was the most notable and controversial design feature of the boat. During the summer of 1983, as selection trials took place for the Cup defense that autumn, it was unclear whether the keel design was legal within the strict rules governing the 12-metre class. Questions also surrounded the Dutch involvement in the design of the keel, which under the rules had to be designed by an Australian. The keel design was eventually confirmed as legal while the keel origin controversy remains unanswered. Despite being the first 12-metre to sport the new design, Australia II was not the first boat to have a winged keel, though her success did much to make the concept popular.

The Australia II also helped the Australians with new sail technology, finally equaling or exceeding that of the Americans. Further, Bertrand made sure he and his crew were trained and refined to execute at the highest levels despite the pressure of this historical match up. America's Cup: Australia II, bearing sail number KA6, represented the Royal Perth Yacht Club of Australia in its September 1983 challenge for the America's Cup. The defender, the New York Yacht Club, had held the cup since 1851, dominating challengers and sustaining the longest winning streak in sport. The Australia II, skippered by John Bertrand, faced Dennis Conner sailing the 12-metre Liberty in the ocean off Newport, Rhode Island. Australia II came from behind to prevail 4 races to 3. The victory on September 26, 1983 was a landmark event for the nation of Australia, not to mention the Royal Perth Yacht Club, and it eventually earned Australia II the ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year for 1983.

The Boxing Kangaroo was the official mascot of the Australia II effort. The win was received with much enthusiasm in Australia, with the Men at Work song Down Under becoming the official anthem for the crew. In the film Wind, Australia II is portrayed as Boomerang. In the mid-1980s, Australia II was sent to the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, Australia for display. For the 150th anniversary of the America's Cup, the boat was removed from the museum and shipped to the Isle of Wight, sailing with the original crew for several days of commemorative regattas. The boat has since been returned to Fremantle, Western Australia where it is on permanent display in the Western Australian Maritime Museum.

It’s enormous, it’s authentic, and it’s our Australia Painted XL Limited Edition. Built using only the highest materials such as rosewood, mahogany, teak, and local exotic woods; this model boat was built by hand using plank on frame method by skillful and creative master craftsmen. Each strip of rare wood is place neatly together to form a smooth hull. It stands 9'3" high and nearly 7' long and 1'3" wide. This is not an ordinary model yacht. This model yacht is purposely hand built to spec and filled with amazing details. The model ship is painted in a lustrous cream color. You can spot the title "Australia II" painted on the side of the hull. This model ship is very detail oriented along with beautiful metal ornaments (metal steering wheels, wooden poles, navigation area, wooden sliders, wooden mast, front and main fabric sail with detailed stitching, "#12 KA-6" in black sticker bond on the main sail, big wooden propeller, wooden anchor, along with other metal ornaments, etc.)

To build this model ship, extensive research was done using various sources such as museums, drawings, copies of original plans and photos of the actual yacht. Our model yacht is completely hand constructed and painted as the original color of the ship by skillful and creative master craftsmen; you will be amazed at how real it looks. This giant wooden model yacht is rested on a large painted solid wooden stand. To enhanced value and recognition, a golden metal plate embedded with "Australia II 1983" is provided. Due to its gigantic size, the masts are folded flat down for easy shipping purposes and come with instruction guide. Assembly time is around 30 minutes.

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