Oatleys put us back in the race for the America's Cup AUSTRALIA will be back in the race for the America's Cup today when the defending Golden Gate Yacht Club announces its challenger of record for the next edition of the 162-year-old event. It is understood billionaire winemaker and sailing devotee Bob Oatley and his Hamilton Island Yacht Club challenged for the cup immediately after the US defender, Oracle Team USA, helmed by Australian skipper Jimmy Spithill, completed a historic comeback victory in San Francisco last Thursday. Australia has not contested the America's Cup since 2000, when another veteran Australian yachtsman, Syd Fischer, put together the Young Australia challenge, which introduced Spithill to America's Cup racing at the tender age of 19. But Oatley and his son Sandy are set to put Australia back in the running for the world's oldest sporting trophy. Speculation about a likely Australian challenge emerged the day after Oracle Team USA's victory in San Francisco, when The New York Times predicted that the next challenger of record would be the Hamilton Island Yacht Club. The Oatleys are the owners of the Hamilton Island resort and their plan is to host the challenger series there. Golden Gate Yacht Club vice commodore Tom Ehman, last week told Reuters that he would "neither confirm nor deny" that Hamilton Island Yacht Club would be the next challenger of record. "What I can say is that GGYC has received a challenge," Ehman said. We received and then we accepted the challenge, and I'm satisfied that it's a bona-fide yacht club under the deed of gift. The challenger of record negotiates with the cup holder on the rules of the competition, representing the other challengers. Hamilton Island chief executive Glenn Bourke, himself a former America's Cup sailor, said yesterday that an announcement on the Hamilton Island challenge was "imminent." "I think the party line is that if that were to happen, everyone would be excited about it," Bourke said. Oracle Team USA completed its victory last week on the 30th anniversary of Australia II's extraordinary victory in 1983, when it became the first challenger in 132 years to take the cup from the New York Yacht Club. That moment was etched in Australian history, establishing an emotional tie with the event that is certain to be revived with a new Australian challenge after more than a decade's absence from the fray. The Oatleys have made winning a habit in their sailing pursuits, claiming six Sydney-to-Hobart line honours victories with their super-maxi Wild Oats XI, as well as an Admiral's Cup win. Their regular skipper, Mark Richards, has America's Cup experience, while current America's Cup regatta director and former America's Cup skipper Iain Murray is also a regular member of their crew. Six Australians sailed in this year's America's Cup final series, four on the victorious Oracle Team USA and two on the vanquished Team New Zealand. The chance to unite on an Australian challenge would be irresistible for most, although Spithill's allegiances would be severely tested, between his country and the American organisation that has given him every opportunity over the past five years. Spithill's name was surprisingly absent yesterday when the finalists for the Australian Yachting Awards were announced. However, a spokesman for Yachting Australia said he could be a late nominee ahead of the presentation of awards on October 18.