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Southern Cross (yacht)

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Southern Cross
Yacht club Royal Perth Yacht Club
Nation Australia
Class12-metre
Sail noKA-4
Designer(s)Ben Lexcen
Racing career
America's Cup1974 America's Cup

Southern Cross is a 12-metre class racing yacht, constructed in Terry Hills by Halvorsen Morson and Gowland of Mona Vale. Perth entrepreneur Alan Bond funded the project and was designed by Australian designer Ben Lexcen. Southern Cross is 68 feet long, weighs 32 tonnes and has a mast that is 97 feet high. It was the first Aluminium yacht to compete in the America's Cup.

Career

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America's Cup

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Although unsuccessful in beating the Americans in the 1974 America's Cup, Southern Cross did beat the competing nations to win the right to challenge for the cup.

Today

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Southern Cross provides chartered overnight sailing trips in the Whitsundays. The conversion of Southern Cross to a charter yacht took two years and included construction of a toilet and shower, beds, kitchen/galley and dining area. The deck was modified to include two cockpits and a motor was fitted.