Free Tuesday Lecture: When the Oldest Trophy in Global Sport Came Down-Under Tue 11 May 2021 11:00am – 12:30pm WA Maritime Museum In 1851, the US-built schooner America beat a fleet of Britain's finest yachts in a race around England's Isle of Wight. The ornate silver trophy they won was later donated to the New York Yacht Club on condition it be forever placed in international competition. It took the rest of the world 132 years to catch up and finally beat the Americans. And it wasn’t one of the powerhouses of Europe that triumphed, but a little yacht from one of the most isolated cities in the world. A little yacht with something to hide. John Longley sailed as a crew member in five consecutive America's Cup campaigns from 1974 to 1987. In 1983 he was a key member of the crew of the Australian challenger Australia II that finally took the trophy away from the New York Yacht Club. Join John as he shares some of his America’s Cup stories and drops a few secrets along the way. Image: Liberty and Australia II approaching the start line during the 1983 America’s Cup final. Image courtesy John Longley