Australia III 12 KA 9

Design and Construction

Australia III (KA-9) was built in 1985 for Alan Bond’s 12 Metre syndicate as part of the Australian defender program in the lead-up to the 1987 America’s Cup in Fremantle, Western Australia. She was developed as one of the campaign boats in the Bond program that followed the success of Australia II (KA-6).

Australia III was built as a competitive 12 Metre for use in testing, development, and defender selection leading into the 1987 Cup cycle.

Defender Selection Role

Australia III (KA-9) took part in the 1987 Defender Selection Series, the internal Australian trials used to determine which yacht would defend the America’s Cup on behalf of Australia.

The Defender Selection Series included multiple Australian 12 Metre yachts, and it ultimately produced the official defender, Kookaburra III (KA-15), which went on to race against the American challenger in the 1987 America’s Cup match off Fremantle.

Australia III was one of the yachts evaluated during this selection process.

Later Status

After her role in the 1987 defender program, Australia III (KA-9) remained in existence and did not disappear the way many campaign trial horses did. She is recorded as having been renamed Fratz and is associated with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Italy.

Significance

Australia III (KA-9) represents the generation of Australian 12 Metres that followed Australia II’s 1983 America’s Cup win. As part of Alan Bond’s defender program leading into the 1987 Cup in Fremantle, she is one of the boats that carried Australian Cup development into its next phase and continued the legacy of Australia II. Unlike many test and trial yachts, Australia III survives today under a new name.