A Dutch naval architect has blown the whistle on a lie that helped Australia's historic America's Cup victory 26-years ago.
Peter van Oossanen says the revolutionary winged keel that ended the American's 132-year hold on the Cup originated from his design team in Holland and not Australian Ben Lexcen who has always been credited for the design.
Van Oossanen says the Australians have always covered up his involvement, and he received what he considered hush money from team boss Alan Bond.
America's Cup rules back in 1983 stipulated a yacht's designers must be from the represented country.
The American's suspected the Dutch were involved but could never find substantial proof. If they had, the Australians would most likely have been thrown out of the Cup.
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