AUSTRALIA II AMERICA'S CUP WINNER 1983 COMMEMORATIVE PORT WINE - THOMAS HARDY & SONS

OVERVIEW:
A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF AUSTRALIAN SPORTING AND WINE HISTORY: A 1978 VINTAGE PORT WINE BOTTLED BY THOMAS HARDY & SONS OF REYNELLA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AND COMMEMORATING AUSTRALIA II'S HISTORIC VICTORY IN THE 1983 AMERICA'S CUP CHALLENGE. THIS IS A RARE COLLECTIBLE THAT COMBINES TWO IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN NARRATIVES—THE TRIUMPH OF BEN LEXCEN'S REVOLUTIONARY YACHT DESIGN AND THE HERITAGE OF AUSTRALIAN WINEMAKING.

AUSTRALIA II WAS DESIGNED BY BEN LEXCEN AND SKIPPERED BY JOHN BERTRAND. THE SYNDICATE WAS HEADED BY ALAN BOND AND THE BOAT WAS ENTERED BY THE ROYAL PERTH YACHT CLUB. IT WON THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE FOR THE AMERICA'S CUP AFTER CONVINCINGLY DEFEATING SIX OTHER FOREIGN CONTENDERS. THE YACHT'S MOST CONTROVERSIAL ATTRIBUTE—ITS REVOLUTIONARY WINGED KEEL, SHROUDED UNTIL AFTER THE FINAL RACE—WAS ARGUABLY ITS MOST CONTROVERSIAL FEATURE. AUSTRALIA II, AFTER BEING DOWN 3-1 IN THE SERIES, STAGED A COURAGEOUS FIGHT BACK TO WIN THE COVETED TROPHY BY A MARGIN OF 41 SECONDS, IN AN EXHILARATING FINAL RACE.

SPECIFICATIONS:
- WINE: 1978 VINTAGE PORT
- PRODUCER: THOMAS HARDY & SONS PTY LTD, REYNELLA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
- BOTTLE VOLUME: 750 ML
- VESSEL SPECIFICATIONS (AS PRINTED ON LABEL):
  LOA: 65 FT
  LWL: 44 FT 6 IN
  BEAM: 12 FT
  DRAUGHT: 8 FT 8 IN
  SAIL AREA: 1760 SQ FT
  DISPLACEMENT: 52,000 LBS
- DESIGNER: BEN LEXCEN
- BUILDER: S.E. WARD & CO
- COMMEMORATIVE BRANDING: AMERICA'S CUP CHALLENGE 1983 PRINTED LABEL WITH VESSEL IMAGERY

CONDITION: THE BOTTLE ITSELF IS IN GOOD CONDITION WITH STABLE LIQUID LEVEL AND INTACT CORK. THE LABEL SHOWS AGE-APPROPRIATE DISCOLOURATION AND MINOR SURFACE WEAR. THE ORIGINAL CARDBOARD PRESENTATION BOX SHOWS SIGNIFICANT AGE-RELATED DETERIORATION INCLUDING WATER STAINING, DARKENING, AND CREASING TO EDGES AND CORNERS, CONSISTENT WITH FOUR DECADES OF STORAGE. DESPITE THE BOX CONDITION, THE BOTTLE REMAINS WELL-PRESERVED AND THE COMMEMORATIVE LABELLING REMAINS CLEARLY LEGIBLE.

PROVENANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE: THIS COMMEMORATIVE WINE REPRESENTS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN AUSTRALIAN SPORTING HISTORY. THE 1983 AMERICA'S CUP VICTORY ENDED A 132-YEAR AMERICAN WINNING STREAK AND REMAINS ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S GREATEST SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS. THE PAIRING OF A PREMIUM AUSTRALIAN PORT WINE WITH THIS HISTORIC MOMENT MAKES THIS A DUAL COLLECTIBLE—VALUED BY BOTH WINE ENTHUSIASTS AND SPORTING MEMORABILIA COLLECTORS. THE SPECIFIC 1978 VINTAGE PORT, WITH ITS STATED MATURITY PEAK OF 10-12 YEARS, WOULD HAVE BEEN AT OPTIMAL DRINKING AGE WHEN BOTTLED FOR THIS COMMEMORATIVE RELEASE IN 1983.

Item Size: Height: 35cm, Width: 15cm, Depth: 15cm, Weight: 2Kg

Condition: Fair

657344+15

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