Starting Cannon - America's Cup Defence, Fremantle,1986/87

Subcollections
Overview

Twelve barrels for starting cannon and presentations were commissioned by Royal Perth Yacht Club. They were designed by Perth Workshop Company, Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and manufactured by RAEME tradesmen and apprentices in their Perth workshop. The cannons were fitted to safely fire a 10-gauge shotgun shell blank round. The cannon are of turned bronze with separately fitted trunnions. They are mounted on jarrah replicas of naval gun trucks with brass and bronze fittings.

Historical information

The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-sixth challenge for the America's Cup.The American challenger Stars & Stripes 87, sailed by Dennis Conner, beat the Australian defender Kookaburra III, sailed by Iain Murray, in a four-race sweep in the best of seven series. Conner thus became the first person both to lose the America's Cup and then to win it back.
The series was held in Gage Roads off Fremantle, Western Australia during the Australian summer months between October 1986 and February 1987. The Royal Perth Yacht Club was the defending club and the organiser of the defence series. Yacht Club Costa Smeralda of Porto Cervo, Sardinia was appointed the challenger of record and hence the organiser of the challenger series.
This was the last time that 12-metre class yachts were used in the America's Cup and the first time for 132 years that it had not been defended by the New York Yacht Club.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-32-99-827
Inscriptions and markings

The front straps are engraved with the insignia of the Royal Australian Electrical and mechanical Engineers (L and R) and the Royal Perth Yacht Club (Centre)The starting cannon are paired to permit an immediate indication of a false start without the necessity of reloading. The difference in wear is readily apparent between the two cannons.

Contextual Information

The cannon were presented to the Army Museum by 5 Military District. They are currently displayed in the Artillery Shed with other large technology items and will be highlighted during the 40th Anniversary of the 1983 America's Cup win by Australia II . The known whereabouts of the other pairs are: Royal Perth Yacht Club, WA Maritime Museum, and New York Yacht Club.

The WA Maritime Museum, the home of Australia II, will offer free entry from September 23 to 26, allowing more families to see the "Australia II: 40 Years On" exhibition.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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Starting Cannon
Pair of starting cannon commissioned for the America's Cup Defence, 1987
Starting Cannon
Dual mounted starting cannon showing breech assembly and firing mechanism.
Direct muzzle view of starting cannon with insignia on front straps.
Direct muzzle view of starting cannons showing insignia on front straps, patina and wear of use clearly visible.

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