Southern Cross 12 KA 4

Southern Cross, KA-4

Origins and Design

Southern Cross (KA-4) was designed by Bob Miller and constructed in Western Australia in 1974 by Halvorsen, Morson & Gowland. From the beginning, she was destined to be a racing yacht, built to the America’s Cup 12 Metre Rule. Notably, she became the first Australian aluminium 12 Metre ever launched, representing a bold new chapter in the nation’s yacht-building ambitions. Measuring 68 feet in length, weighing 32 tonnes, and carrying a 97-foot mast, she was built with one purpose: to take on the world’s best in the America’s Cup.

The 1974 America’s Cup

In 1974, Southern Cross traveled to Newport, Rhode Island, as Australia’s challenger for the prestigious America’s Cup. The event is regarded as one of the most competitive and expensive sporting contests in the world, where success hinges on leadership, teamwork, technology, and weather as much as on design.

The first race began with Southern Cross taking a slight lead, only to be overtaken by the American defender Courageous after a wind shift, finishing nearly five minutes behind. The second race saw a near collision at the start and a fierce tacking duel, with Courageous ultimately finishing just over a minute ahead. In the third race, both yachts were over the line early, but Courageous won the restart and steadily pulled ahead, finishing five minutes clear. The final race sealed the series, with Courageous winning by more than seven minutes. Though defeated four races to none, Southern Cross demonstrated her strength, skill, and determination, earning admiration as a finalist and making Australia proud.

Trials and the Louis Vuitton Cup

Before reaching the Cup, Southern Cross had already proven her worth, winning the Louis Vuitton Cup to earn her place as challenger. Her designer, Bob Miller, described yacht design as “one of the only arts left where the artist has to prove his work by active performance.” By that measure, Southern Cross stood as a successful and valuable creation: she may not have lifted the Cup, but she proved herself among the world’s elite racing yachts.

Later Life in the Whitsundays

Following her racing career, Southern Cross underwent renovations in the early 1990s to become a charter yacht. She was refitted with twin cockpits, comfortable accommodations, and a motor, while still retaining the sleek lines of a 12 Metre. Today she operates out of the Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, taking up to 30 passengers a day on sailing adventures to Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, and snorkeling destinations. Painted with the iconic Southern Cross constellation down her side, she is an unmissable sight on the water and a local favorite, offering guests the unique experience of sailing aboard a true America’s Cup challenger.

Legacy

Though she did not capture the America’s Cup, Southern Cross (KA-4) made history as Australia’s first aluminium 12 Metre, a Louis Vuitton Cup winner, and a proud challenger in 1974. Her story embodies the artistry of yacht design, the drama of world-class racing, and the enduring spirit of Australia’s sailing heritage. Today, as both a living piece of racing history and a beloved Whitsundays charter yacht, she continues to inspire all who sail aboard her.