Everyone credits Australia II’s revolutionary winged keel for ending the United States’ 132-year reign over the America’s Cup in 1983 off Newport, Rhode Island. But let’s be honest—our bet is on the shorts. Crafted by Canterbury of New Zealand for the 1983 campaign and later by Stubbies for the 1987 defense in Fremantle (the first time the Cup departed Newport) the iconic green shorts are etched into sailing legend. Worn both on and off the water, they captured the team’s upstart, casual-cool image, a sharp contrast to the muted, traditional tones of the American uniforms. Indicative of 1980s athletic wear and a fresh take on masculine style, the shorts were often paired with fitted polos or rugby jerseys in national colors—cementing the Aussies’ image as one of the most distinctive in modern sports history. Original pairs now reside in the collections of the Australian Sports Museum and the National Museum of Australia. This particular pair is an Official Product of the America’s Cup Defence 1987, featuring the signature Boxing Kangaroo and “KA 9” sail number—one of the syndicate’s 12-Metre yachts. Barely worn and complete with the original tag, they’re a grail-tier relic bound to turn heads.
