Liberty 12 US 40
Design and Construction
Liberty was a 12-Metre class yacht built specifically for the 1983 America’s Cup defense. Designed by Johan Valentijn and constructed by Newport Offshore, Ltd., she was commissioned under the Freedom ’83 Campaign and sailed out of New York. Her hull was made of aluminum alloy, a hallmark of strength and lightness at the time.
Key Specifications:
Length overall: 19.37 m
Waterline length: 13.70 m
Beam: 3.70 m
Draft: 2.67 m
Displacement: ~24.35 tonnes
Sail area: ~198 m²
These dimensions made Liberty one of the most advanced 12-Metres of her day, optimized for speed, tactical handling, and the challenging waters of Newport, Rhode Island.
The 1983 America’s Cup Defense
Under the leadership of Dennis Conner, Liberty triumphed in the defender selection trials against fellow American yachts Courageous and Defender, earning the right to represent the New York Yacht Club in what became one of the most historic regattas in sailing.
The challenger, Australia II, introduced a revolutionary winged keel that shifted the yacht’s center of gravity downward, enhancing stability and maneuverability. Though her designer, Ben Lexcen, became a celebrated figure, the keel’s development led to controversy and accusations of foreign design assistance — the so-called “Keelgate.”
Despite the shadow of innovation on the challenger’s side, Liberty proved a formidable defender. She won the first two races of the best-of-seven series, and in the decisive seventh race, she led for much of the course. But ultimately, Australia II overtook her, securing a 4–3 victory. With that, Liberty became the yacht that marked the end of the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year dominance of the America’s Cup.
Legacy and Later Years
Though remembered as the yacht that lost the Cup, Liberty embodied the resilience and competitiveness of American yachting. She pushed Australia II to the very brink, and her narrow defeat underscored how razor-thin the margins had become at the highest levels of design and seamanship.
After 1983, Liberty continued to play an important role as a trial-horse for Conner’s Stars & Stripes ’87 campaign. Later, she was sold to a Japanese owner in 1989. Her final fate is uncertain — reports suggest that she may have sunk off Kobe between 1989 and 1991 — but her place in America’s Cup history is secure.
The Legacy of Liberty
Liberty represents both the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. She was the last defender of the Cup during the New York Yacht Club’s long reign and stands as a symbol of the moment when innovation and bold design forever changed the landscape of America’s Cup competition.