South Australia was originally built for the 1987 Australian Defence of the Americas Cup which was to be held in Perth. She was the entry of
the South Australian Royal Yacht Squadron in Adelaide and was put together by a consortium of businesses in the area.
She was the next boat designed by Ben Lexcen after he designed Australia 2. She performed badly in the rough & windy waters of Perth and
was eliminated early on. At the time she was said to be better suited to light airs and flat seas where she was then considered quick.
In 1988 she was a semi-finalist in the 12 metre world championships held in the Baltic.
In 2001 she won the Americas Cup Jubilee World Championship in the Solent UK. Sailing against the majority of GP boats built for the 1987
Americas cup. She was skippered by Russell Coutts was tuned and adjusted beforehand for better performance.
In 2007 under new ownership the boat underwent a major refit. This was managed by Jaques & Nicolas Fauroux. She was fitted with a new
tandem keel design (the only 12mR with this configuration). A new Carbon Fibre Rudder, Spinnaker Pole and Boom were designed with a
larger revised sail plan. New standing rod rigging installed and also the cockpit layout was remodelled. New Harken Carbon fibre pedestals and
Harken winches were fitted and the hydraulic systems enhanced. This created a very different boat.
Between 2007 and 2012 she was raced widely in the med against other 12 metre boats and at the time and was considered a very fast 12
metre. She was also extensively tested and sailed against Kookaburra 3 with an interchangeable crew out of Antibes.
During 10 years she stays in a shipyard.
Since 2023 under a French Armator, the boat is based in Hyeres and performs quite well in the Med Circuit with amator crew.
She is today considered as one of the best performing 1987 built 12 MJ.