The 1980America's Cup was held in September 1980 atNewport, Rhode Island. The US defender,Freedom, skippered byDennis Conner, defeated the Australian challenger,Australia, skippered byJames Hardy,[1] four races to one. This was the last successful defense of the cup by theNew York Yacht Club and the last defender designed by the naval architectural firmSparkman & Stephens. It was the sixth unsuccessful challenge by Australia and the third byAlan Bond.
Freedom had beatenCourageous andClipper to become the defender.Australia had beatenFrance III,Lionheart andSverige to become the challenger.[2]
Freedom's crew included skipperDennis Conner, navigatorHalsey Herreshoff, tactician Dennis Durgan, trimmerJohn Marshall, grinders Rives Potts and Kyle Smith, mastman Robert "Bobbie" Campbell, pitman Donald Kohlmann, bowmanLexi Gahagan, Jonathan Wright andTom Whidden.[3]
Australia's crew included skipperJames Hardy,Noel Robins, tacticianBen Lexcen, port trimmerJohn Bertrand,Scott McAllister,John Longley andKenneth Judge.[4][5][6]
| Team | 16 September 1980 | 19 September 1980 | 21 September 1980 | 23 September 1980 | 25 September 1980 | Pts |
|---|
 Freedom | W | +0:28 | W | W | W | 4 |
 Australia | +1:58 | W | +1:53 | +3:48 | +3:38 | 1 |
