America's Cup 1975

1975 was an active year for me. After the America's Cup we moved to Cowes, on the Isle of Wight where I worked at Souter's building boats. I continued to sail, skippering the prototype of the Swan 41, named "GunFleet of Hamble" in the Admiral's Cup Trials. Then the Transatlantic race from Newport to Cowes on "Weald" a Swan 48. Cowes week on "Gitana VI" a new S&S 66' for Baron Rothschild. The Fastnet on "Guia" a Bob Miller 44' formerly known as "Gingko"

duke of york

Guia leaving the the fastnet

gunfleet of hamble

gitana vi

wsl and my mother in law at the hamble

    During Cowes week where most everyone was there. I was invited to a meeting with Bob Miller, Johan Valentine, Alan Bond, Warren Jones,  and a few others. Ironically, Bob Miller had taken the apartment over the Duke of York where Bernadette and I had lived for more than a year.  This meeting was a proposal for me to go to Australia to build the next challenger for the America's Cup. Naturally lots of questions and answers. The final moment was when Alan Bond asked if I would bring the lines of "Courageous" which I had built. When I answered "NO" the meeting was over.