Kookaburra III 12 KA 12
The Last Australian Defender of the America's Cup
Kookaburra III (KA-15) is a historic 12-Metre Class yacht that represented Australia in the 1987 America’s Cup in Fremantle, Western Australia. Designed by Iain Murray and John Swarbrick, and built by Parry Boat Builders, she was the third and final yacht developed by the Taskforce ’87 America’s Cup Defence Ltd., the syndicate funded by Perth entrepreneur Kevin Parry.
Launched in 1986, Kookaburra III was built to International Third Rule specifications and represented the Royal Perth Yacht Club. At 24.5 tons displacement, with a length overall of 20.42 meters, a beam of 3.69m, and draft of 2.77m, she was a sleek, powerful racing yacht that pushed design boundaries of her time.
The Taskforce ’87 Campaign
The Taskforce ’87 campaign emerged in response to concerns voiced by America’s Cup veteran Alan Bond, who worried that Australia lacked domestic competition strong enough to defend the Cup it had famously won in 1983. In reply, Kevin Parry launched a highly resourced syndicate with an A$28 million budget, assembling elite Australian sailors and designers.
The result: three nearly identical yet evolving yachts—Kookaburra I, II, and III—each built for testing and competition. Designed with more freeboard, longer overhangs, and state-of-the-art electronics (including onboard performance computers), the Kookaburras were technological marvels of the 12mR era. Each was fine-tuned in design facilities and tank-tested rigorously, with Alan Payne contributing to keel development.
The Defender Trials & Selection
The 1987 Defender Selection Trials were among the most fiercely contested in America's Cup history. Kookaburra II, often regarded as the fastest of the fleet early on, was used as a benchmark boat. However, major modifications to Kookaburra III’s keel gave her the decisive edge. The fleet also included Australia IV, fielded by the Bond syndicate, and the underdog Steak and Kidney.
After 101 races and more than 50 official protests, Kookaburra III topped the leaderboard with 83 points, ahead of Australia IV (77) and Kookaburra II (70). In the best-of-nine Defender Finals, Kookaburra III swept Australia IV 5–0, decisively earning the honor to defend the Cup and marking the first time in 13 years Alan Bond was out of contention.
1987 America’s Cup: The Final Showdown
With Iain Murray at the helm, Kookaburra III went on to challenge Stars & Stripes 87, the American syndicate led by Dennis Conner. The heavily optimized American boat proved too strong, sweeping the series 4–0 and reclaiming the Cup for the USA.
A New Life in Europe
After her campaign, Kookaburra III’s journey continued:
1993 – Sold to Kookaburra Challenge Pty. Ltd., Newport, NSW, Australia.
2006 – Acquired by Chantier Marine Tremard, Antibes, France.
Today – Owned by Italian businessman Maurizio Vecchiola, she is actively sailing and racing along the French Riviera.
Still sporting her iconic green-and-gold livery, Kookaburra III has become a beloved classic in the Mediterranean circuit. While her America's Cup defense may not have ended in victory, her elegance and engineering continue to impress to this day.