Royal Perth Yacht Club
The Royal Perth Yacht Club (RPYC) is one of Australia's oldest and most famous yacht clubs, on the Swan River in Perth — the club that won the 1983 America's Cup with Australia II, ending the longest winning streak in sport.
Photo: The Logical Positivist, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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The Royal Perth Yacht Club (RPYC) is one of Australia's oldest and most famous yacht clubs — on the Swan River in Perth, and known the world over as the club that won the 1983 America's Cup with Australia II, ending the longest winning streak in the history of sport.
The club
RPYC's main base is the Crawley Marina on Pelican Point, on the Swan River close to central Perth, with a Fremantle Annexe at Challenger Harbour for ocean access. It runs a full program of keelboat, one-design and off-the-beach racing, together with a strong youth pathway, and remains one of Western Australia's leading clubs. For the local sailing scene, see our guide to sailing in Perth and Fremantle.
The 1983 America's Cup
The club's defining moment came in 1983. An Australian syndicate representing RPYC raced Australia II — skippered by John Bertrand and designed by Ben Lexcen, whose radical winged keel became legendary — against the American defender Liberty, skippered by Dennis Conner. Australia II won the match to take the America's Cup, the first successful challenge in 132 years and the end of the New York Yacht Club's grip on the trophy. It remains one of the most celebrated moments in Australian sporting history.
History
The club traces its origins to 1841, when sailors staged a regatta for Foundation Day, and the Perth Yacht Club was formally established in 1865. It is the third oldest yacht club in Australia, after the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria and the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, and it moved to its Crawley home in 1953.
Where it sails
RPYC sails on the Swan River — sheltered, scenic inshore water in the heart of Perth — and offshore from Fremantle on the Indian Ocean, where the famous afternoon sea breeze, the Fremantle Doctor, makes for some of the best and breeziest racing in the country.
Following the club
RPYC publishes its racing calendar, history and results through its official website. For more on the setting, see our guides to sailing in Perth and Fremantle and the Fremantle Doctor, and the sailing terms glossary for the vocabulary of the sport.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Royal Perth Yacht Club?
- The Royal Perth Yacht Club (RPYC) is one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious yacht clubs, based at Crawley on the Swan River in Perth, with an annexe at Fremantle. Formalised in 1865, it is the third oldest yacht club in Australia, and it is world-famous as the club that won the 1983 America's Cup with the yacht Australia II — the first successful challenge for the Cup in 132 years.
- Did the Royal Perth Yacht Club win the America's Cup?
- Yes. In 1983, an Australian syndicate representing the Royal Perth Yacht Club raced Australia II, skippered by John Bertrand and designed by Ben Lexcen with its innovative winged keel, against the American defender Liberty skippered by Dennis Conner. Australia II won the match to take the America's Cup, ending the New York Yacht Club's 132-year hold on the trophy — the longest winning streak in the history of sport.
- Where is the Royal Perth Yacht Club?
- The club's main base is the Crawley Marina on Pelican Point, on the Swan River close to central Perth, with a Fremantle Annexe at Challenger Harbour giving access to the ocean. The club moved to its Crawley site in 1953. The Swan River provides sheltered inshore sailing, while the Fremantle base supports offshore and ocean racing on the Indian Ocean.
- When was the Royal Perth Yacht Club founded?
- The club traces its origins to 1841, when sailors staged a regatta to celebrate Foundation Day, and the Perth Yacht Club was formally established in 1865. It is the third oldest yacht club in Australia, after the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria and the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, and it gained its Royal title in recognition of its standing.
- What sailing happens at the Royal Perth Yacht Club?
- RPYC runs a full program of keelboat, one-design and off-the-beach dinghy racing on the Swan River and offshore from Fremantle, along with a strong youth and development program. Beyond its America's Cup legacy, it remains one of Western Australia's leading clubs, hosting club, state and national championship racing.
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