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The keel consists of a
large fin attached to a lead-filled bulb. The keel stops the boat
from capsizing and counteracts the pressure made on the
sails by the wind. It weighs about 20 tons
and represents 80% of the entire boat's weight. The maximum
draught - distance from waterline to base of keel &endash;
is four metres and is likely to be adhered to by
millimetres. The keel design is one
of the America's Cup's most closely-guarded secrets. Boats
will enter and exit the water draped in skirts to hide the
keel from prying eyes. In 1983 controversy
spilled over when Alan Bond's Australia II accused defender
Dennis Conner of spying by sending divers into the dock to
peer at its keel. It turned out Australia
II was using a revolutionary winged keel but it was
eventually deemed legal and they went on to win the Cup,
ending America's 132-year stranglehold.
