Gretel 12 KA 1

Australia’s First America's Cup Challenger

Built: 1962
Rule: International Third Rule – America’s Cup
Designer: Alan Payne
Original Owner: Sir Frank Packer
Home Port: Sydney, Australia

A Historic First for Australia

Gretel was the first Australian 12-Metre yacht to challenge for the America’s Cup, and she made history in the process. Commissioned by Sir Frank Packer, an influential media magnate, and designed by the brilliant naval architect Alan Payne, Gretel was a bold leap onto the world stage of competitive sailing. Built specifically for the 1962 America’s Cup, she became the first challenger to win a race against the defender since 1934.

Packer’s commitment to innovation was clear from the start. He chartered Vim in 1959 for testing and development, and sent Payne to the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, where Payne accessed American design methods and measurement techniques. Gretel’s hull was based on refined studies of Vim, enhanced by new innovations, including linked winches for the genoa sheets—allowing gear shifts via foot pedal, significantly improving efficiency during tacking.

In the 1962 America’s Cup, Gretel impressed with her speed and performance against the American defender Weatherly. Although the Australians lost the series 4–1, they stunned the sailing world by winning a race—breaking nearly three decades of U.S. dominance. The Americans ultimately prevailed, thanks more to crew experience than superior yacht design. In response, U.S. authorities restricted foreign challengers from accessing their technological resources.

Later Years and Modifications

  • 1966–1967: Gretel was altered by Alan Payne and served as the trial horse for Dame Pattie, Australia’s 1967 challenger.

  • 1970s: She later supported Gretel II and Southern Cross as a training vessel.

  • Ownership Timeline:

    • 1973–1974: Yanchep Estates Pty. Ltd. – Home port: Perth/Yanchep

    • 1975–1979: Southern Cross America's Cup Challenge Association Ltd. & Gretel Syndicate – Home ports included Yanchep, Port Melbourne, and Sydney.

Eventually, Gretel disappeared from Lloyd’s Register, her whereabouts unknown for some time.

Rediscovery and Restoration

After decades as a sparring partner and vintage racer, Gretel was discovered in Europe, having been relocated to Italy. She was subsequently acquired by Robbe & Berking Classics, a renowned yacht restoration shipyard in Flensburg, Germany. Shipyard manager Oliver Berking has committed to a full restoration, returning Gretel to her original 1962 configuration.

“It is a piece of yachting history and must be preserved at all costs.”
— Oliver Berking, Robbe & Berking Classics

Gretel’s legacy endures as a pioneering symbol of Australian excellence in America’s Cup history. Her bold debut marked a turning point in international competition and laid the groundwork for future Southern Hemisphere challenges.