The story of Australia II and the campaign to win the 1983 America's Cup will feature on ABC TV's Australian Story tonight.

Down By The Sea will run over two weeks, the first episode tonight at 8pm and episode two next Monday 15 April.

If you are a certain age chances are you remember exactly where you were in the early hours of September 27 thirty years ago.

It was the day an Australian yacht ended the longest winning streak in sporting history, grabbing the legendary America's Cup from the New York Yacht Club.

In this thirtieth anniversary year, Australian Story revisits those euphoric and nation defining events.

There are surprising and entertaining new insights from the main players, including then Prime Minister Bob Hawke, Alan Bond and his former wife Eileen and skipper John Bertrand. Also interviewed are Australia II crew member Grant Simmer, London 2012 Olympics gold medallist Tom Slingsby and 2010 America's Cup winning skipper James Spithill.

There is also rarely seen archival footage with cameos from US Presidents Reagan and John F Kennedy and early film of Alan Bond and Ben Lexcen.