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Did Australia cheat in the America’s Cup?

Sunday Night's Ross Coulthart looks into a mystery that has been kept under winged keel for over 25 years.

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Did Australia cheat in winning the America’s Cup in 1983?

That’s the question Sunday Night’s Ross Coulthart will be looking into this weekend.

Right up there with the “Down Under” saga perhaps?

Sunday Night also has stories on Scientology and LA papparazzi.

Anyone who doesn’t watch this is (almost) “a bum.”

The 1983 America’s Cup victory is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest sporting triumphs. Bankrolled by Alan Bond, Australia II made history when it sailed over the line, ending the USA’s 132 year domination of the race. But now, 26 years on, comes a startling allegation that we cheated…that the boat’s revolutionary winged keel ‘secret weapon’ broke race rules and should have seen the Aussie team disqualified. Alan Bond stands accused of a hush-money cover-up and of denying a Dutch-born boat designer his place in the history books. Someone is lying about their role in this mystery that’s been over a quarter of a century in the making. Sunday Night’s investigator Ross Coulthart uncovers both sides of the story.

It airs 6:30pm Sunday on Seven.

8 Responses

  1. If cheating is ok as long as you win……seems rather showing of character. You cannot all be justify clear cheating and say its ok…….as long as we beat whoever it is we can belittle. Cheating is cheating, rather astounding your priding yourself being behind such a shameful action. If rules are in place for all to follow, what gives Australia the right to break them, just to win a mental and perceived victory. Does not matter if it was 26+ years later, and to dismiss it as Australia won…end of story. Have some damn pride, be adults and admit what you did. Or you can keep lying to yourself as a whole thinking you won something “fair and square” when in truth….you did not. Hardly a way to measure yourselves against others, if you have to cheat along the way. I have more respect for someone who can admit their faults, then to keep on with a lie to the day they die.

  4. The only mystery here is why someone has come forward to cry ‘injustice’ all this time later.

    Australia won the cup fair and square and others who still cannot accept it should move on – isn’t that what winning or losing gracefully is all about?

  5. more tabloid rubbish for this show, just another case of the story they did on daniel morcombe. how did that go channel 7 and how did the mike rann scandle go as well

  7. The American’s only like the America’s Cup when they win…

    Does anyone else find it a bit odd that this guy comes forward 27 year later to claim he designed the keel? Seven are playing straight into tabloid telly here…

  8. When it comes to bending the rules the Americans are good at it as well as anyone else.

    This years so called “America’s Cup” now that was something else, Australia’s win in 1983 has more credibility than this year’s smash and grab where no challenger series was held just a straight best of three series with the USA winning 2-0. All after a controversial court battle.

    No Australia deserved victory in 1983 just like when the USA won it back at Fremantle in 1987.

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