26th September 1983
QUIZMASTER GAV: Righto crew, Tuesday Trivia — Aussie Classics. First question: Which WA-backed rocket with a secret undercarriage broke a 132-year streak on 26 Sept 1983?
TEAM SANDGROPERS (Bec, Damo, Nonna Jo, and Baz): “Easy — Australia II. Winged keel. John Bertrand. Fremantle fish ’n’ chips for everyone.”
Gav grins like a quokka with free lettuce. “Correct. Bonus: What did half of WA do at 5:21pm Perth time?”
Nonna Jo: “Spilled tea. Then upgraded to champagne.”
Damo: “And promised to name their firstborn ‘Winged Keel’.” (Bec shakes head vigorously.)
Next: From what humble club did the challenge sail?
Baz: “Royal Perth Yacht Club — which later hosted the defence in Freo. Also: best jaffles near a boat shed.”
Gav nods. “Final for the chocolate frog: Describe the tactic that clutched the last race.”
Bec: “They were 1–3 down, clawed back to 3–3, then in Race 7 played the shifts like a Stradivarius, took the lead on the beat, and never let Conner’s Liberty breathe.”
The pub erupts. Someone lifts a coaster like it’s the Auld Mug itself. Nonna Jo quiets the table. “Remember the designer — Ben Lexcen — and the whole crew. History’s a team sport.”
Gav points at the TV replay: a sleek hull slicing grey Rhode Island water, that odd little keel doing big-brain hydrodynamics. Baz wipes an eye. “Mate, we beat the longest streak in sport. From Perth. With science. And stubbornness.”
The chocolate frog is ceremonially divided. The bar shouts, “WA! WA!” and someone starts planning a pilgrimage to the Maritime Museum to stare lovingly at the real boat.
“Next round,” says Gav. “Category: Things WA did that shocked the world.” The table cracks their knuckles. Game on.
* as depicted by AI - may not factually be correct