Gretel II is a 12 Metre yacht built for the 1970 America's Cup designed by Alan Payne and built by Bill Barnett for Frank Packer.Bill Barnett: an incredible builder, designer and competitor Afloat
1970 America's Cup Packer returned to Newport, Rhode Island to challenge for the 1970 America's Cup with his new 12 Metre yacht Gretel II representing the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.Naming of Gretel II Australian Women's Weekly 29 April 1970 page 11 It was the last of the wooden-hulled America's Cup yachts.A star reborn Sails October 2011 Gretel II was skippered by Jim Hardy with Martin Visser as tactician and starting helmsman and Bill Fesq as navigator. The crew included future Olympic Star class gold medallists John Anderson and David Forbes, and future America's Cup winning skipper John Bertrand as port trimmer.
After defeating Marcel Bich’s France in the challenger selection series 4–0, the Australian yacht took on the American defender Intrepid, skippered by Bill Ficker in a best-of-seven race series.
Intrepid won the first race when Gretel IIs David Forbes was swept overboard but managed to hang onto the sail and scramble back on board. Then in a controversial second race, Gretel II crossed the finish line 1 minute 7 seconds ahead, but due to a collision at the start the Australian challenger was disqualified. Intrepid won the third race but Gretel II recorded a win in the fourth race by a margin of 1 minute 2 seconds. Intrepid then took out the fifth race to win the America's Cup 4–1.
Many observers, such as 1977 America's Cup winning skipper Ted Turner, believed that Gretel II was a faster boat than Intrepid but that the tactical cunning of Bill Ficker and Steve Van Dyke and the performance of the American crew were the deciding factors in the Americans' victory.
1977 America's Cup Gretel II served as a trial horse for Alan Bond’s Southern Cross in the lead up to the 1974 America's Cup.Local yachtsman for Gretel II Port Lincoln Times 16 November 1972 page 3 In the 1977 America's Cup Gretel II, skippered by Gordon Ingate, was one of four yachts vying to challenge for the cup.New Challenge by Gretal II Canberra Times 2 November 1976 page 20 Her wooden decking was replaced with aluminium for the new campaign. The yacht was eliminated by Swedish entrant Sverige during the challenger selection trials.Sverige sentimental favourite after beating Gretel II Canberra Times 23 August 1977 page 20 The new Alan Bond yacht Australia won the right to challenge but lost to the Americans.
After a period with the Sydney Heritage Fleet, Gretel II was purchased by Michael Maxwell in 2005 and restored in New Zealand.Gretel II returns to racing with Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron Sail World 3 September 2009 As at 2020, it was berthed at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.Summer of sail launched on Derwent Derwent Sailing Squadron 6 October 2018Gretel II turned 50 in Hobart today Sail World 10 April 2020
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