Former winners Australia will challenge for a berth in the next America’s Cup yacht race in 2013, ending more than a decade on the sidelines.

Australia, whose Australia II became the first non-American winner in 1983, has challenged on seven previous occasions for the world’s oldest sporting trophy. The 34th edition will be contested in San Francisco in 2013.

The Australian team, whose yacht and crew have not been announced, will battle for the Louis Vuitton Cup, whose winner will face America’s Cup defender Oracle Racing of the United States.

Two French teams, a Swedish outfit and an Italian club are the other Louis Vuitton Cup contenders announced so far.

Australia II, under the famous “Boxing Kangaroo” flag, beat US yacht Liberty in the last race of the nail-biting 1983 series, taking the trophy away from New York for the first time in the event’s 132-year history.

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