ONE of Australia’s favourite sporting heroes, John Bertrand AO, who skippered Australia II to victory in the 1983 America’s Cup, will be guest speaker at the Mornington Yacht Club’s foundation business lunch on Friday 5 April.
The win etched Bertrand’s name into sporting history, ending 132 years of American supremacy in the prestigious sailing race, and giving Australia its only win in the event’s history.
The now 77-year-old went on to represent Australia in five America’s Cups, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1983 and 1995, and two Olympic Games, Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976, winning bronze in Montreal in the Finn class.
Bertrand’s name hit the global headlines again in 1995 when the yacht he was skippering in the America’s Cup race against Team New Zealand was battered by strong winds, heavy seas and rain, and sank in 152 metres of water. It was the first boat lost in the 144 years of the contest and the most destructive day.
As recently as January 2023, sailing with George Richardson and Lewis Brake, Bertrand won the 2023 Australian Etchells Championship at the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia. The nine-race event was held over six days.
These days the sailing legend mentors young aspiring Olympians and, as a keynote speaker, inspires corporates, students and community groups to achieve performance goals.
He is also an entrepreneur and philanthropist, having built companies in the marine industry, property development and media industries.
As chair and president of Swimming Australia from 2013 until October 2020, he led with the simple vision of encouraging his charges to become world’s best in everything they undertook.
Bertrand will be taking questions at the Mornington Yacht Club lunch.
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