KA-5 Australia & KA-14 Steak n Kidney
My name is Benjamin Morgan and I am the President of the Australian 12m Historic Trust. A newly formed volunteer association who’s charter is to acquire, restore and preserve Australia’s former America’s Cup 12m racing yachts. We have recently acquired the 1977 and 1980 America’s Cup challenger KA-5 Australia and the 1987 America’s Cup yacht KA-14 Steak n Kidney. Both yachts have just undergone a 2 month refit in preparation for their voyage from Mackay Harbour to Sydney.
This will be the last time that these two historic racing icons will travel down the eastern coast of Australia. We are planning to depart from Mackay on or around the first week of November 2011.
Our voyage to Sydney will have our two crews stopping each night at various ports and harbours down the Queensland and New South Wales coast – leading up to our arrival into Sydney Harbour. The two yachts will be operated by our organisation and used for a range of public events, charity events and schools training programmes.
It is planned that our arrival to Sydney Harbour will align with either a Saturday or Sunday, estimated to be either the 12th-13th or the 22nd-23rd of November 2011.
I will be providing email updates of our southern voyage and information regarding dates and times for ports we intend on visiting. We are anticipating extensive media coverage of our voyage south with Television, Newspaper and Radio coverage of our progress and expected arrival times.
A voyage plan is being prepared as I type and will be released in the coming week via email. This plan will contain details of the expected ports we intend on visiting and our estimated arrival times, stay time and departure times.
I would like to warmly invite all yacht club members down the eastern coastline to participate in our historic voyage south. You can do so by greeting our two yachts with spectator boats, yachts and watercraft – flying Australian Flags and Boxing Kangaroo flags.
During our time in each port, the two historic yachts will be open to the public for inspections and we of course welcome all yacht club members to visit our crews and to come on board.
Should you wish to know more about our historic voyage, please contact Ben Morgan on 0415 577 724 or reply to this email.
IMPORTANT DATES
1. Departure from Mackay Harbour – Last week October to First week November 2011.
2. Arrival into Sydney Harbour – 12th-13th November or 22nd-23rd November 2011.
WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
Become a sailing crew member. There are still positions available for sail crew on board our two historic America’s Cup racing yachts. if you have a passion for sailing and want to be part of something historic, this could be your opportunity. Contact Ben Morgan on 0415 577 724 to discuss.
Become a host yacht club. Our crews are planning to stop at various ports and harbours on their way south. We are expecting a range of television, newspaper and radio interviews. Should your yacht club wish to take advantage of this publicity, please contact Ben Morgan on 0415 577 724 to discuss becoming a host yacht club.
Become a supporting member. You can support the Australian 12m Historic Trust by becoming a financial member. Memberships to our organisation are $199 and the money we raise goes to restoring and preserving our historic racing machines. To become a member, visit: http://www.australian12m.com/?page_id=682 or contact Ben Morgan on 0415 577 724
Donate products or services. The Australian 12m Historic Trust is supported by a range of individuals and organisations who provide products and services. If you have a product or service that you would like to to donate, please contact Ben Morgan on 0415 577 724.
Follow our website and facebook. The Australian 12m Historic Trust operates a comprehensive website and facebook service. Visit: http://www.australian12m.com for details.
Thank you for your time and we look forward to seeing many of you as we make our way south.
Best regards,
BENJAMIN MORGAN
President – Australian 12m Historic Trust
Mobile: 0415 577 724
Email: benmorgan@australian12m.com
PRESERVING AUSTRALIA’S 12M AMERICA’S CUP HERITAGE