- John Bertrand
John Edwin Bertrand AM (born
December 20 ,1946 inMelbourne, Victoria ) is a yachtsman fromAustralia , who skippered "Australia II " to victory in the 1983America's Cup , ending 132 years of American supremacy. Bertrand won the bronze medal in the Finn competition at the1976 Summer Olympics inMontreal . He is a member ofRoyal Brighton Yacht Club inMelbourne Australia, and currently competes in theEtchells class boats.John Bertrand wrote "Born to Win" about the 1983 America's Cup victory, including insightful observations on the strategy for an unfavoured team against very long odds.
Betrand is currently the chairman of the
Sport Australia Hall of Fame & The Allanah and Madeline Foundation, named after Allanah & Madeline Mikac, who were murdered in thePort Arthur Massacre . [ [http://www.sahof.org.au/aboutUs/theBoard/ Sport Australia Hall of Fame website] ] Following the 2nd Test in Sydney in 2007 between India and Australia, Bertrand criticised the Australian cricket team, saying their attitude was damaging international relations. [cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23020215-5006301,00.html?from=mostpop|work=Herald Sun|author=Glenn Mitchell and AAP|title=Bucknor a necessary sacrifice, says ICC|date=2008-01-09|accessdate=2008-01-09]Honours
*
26 January 1984 : Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of service to yachting, particularly as helmsman of the "Australia II" in the America's Cup challenge 1983.
*18 September 1993 : Member of theAmerica's Cup Hall of Fame for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup.
*14 July 2000 :Australian Sports Medal for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup and general contribution
*1 January 2001 :Centenary Medal for service to Australian society through the sport of Sailing.Notes
References
*Bertrand, John "Born to win : a lifelong struggle to capture the America's Cup" (as told to Patrick Robinson). Sydney : Bantam Books, c1985. ISBN 0553051180. Also published: New York: Hearst Marine Books, 1985.
* [http://www.monash.edu.au/alumni/prominent-alumni/john-bertrand.html Prominent alumni: Mr John Bertrand, AM] ,Monash University
* [http://www.herreshoff.org/hof_1993_4.asp America's Cup Hall of Fame biography]
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