John Bertrand

Andy Rice speaks to the America's Cup legend about being reunited with Australia II for the America's Cup Jubilee

"It was like fitting on an old glove," John Bertrand purred when he first returned to the helm of Australia II for the first time since that epic day in September 1983. Barely arrived in England after her long trip from Fremantle, KA-6 was first seen tearing around the race track at Skandia Life Cowes Week and putting in a stunning performance on IRC handicap.

Bertrand told madforsailing: "It has been great sailing with Damian, Chink, Ya and Skippy again. The chain of communication down the boat is there and has not been lost. We've stayed in touch over the years and had our reunions, but to get sailing together has been really special."

By comparison with the ACC yachts now used in the battle for the Auld Mug, Australia II is looking a little long in the tooth, and her old skipper admits as much. "She's a dinosaur, but to sail her again is like flying on the back of an eagle."

Bertrand has been involved in subsequent America's Cup campaigns, most notably on the ill-fated OneAustralia campaign of 1995 when the hull snapped in two and sank. Australia II is a long way from the hi-tech machines of today, but she is still drawing her fair share of admirers. "The modern yachts are very sophisticated but a lot of the America's Cup boys are coming down to look at her."

As for her chances of victory in the Prada 12-metre World Championships, Bertrand is not laying his cards on the table quite yet. "The '87 boats would have to be quicker, I would have thought, but our boat will do well in around 12 knots."

Preservation of the Little White Pointer is high on Bertrand's agenda too, with the boat on loan from the museum where it has resided for a decade and a half. He has no intention of running her aground if he can avoid it - although this did happen during Cowes Week and happened once before, a long time ago in Fremantle not long after the yacht was launched.

In any case, Bertrand knows what it is like to run aground on the Brambles Bank. He has done it before and played cricket on the Solent's wicket. The museum's curators were understandably twitchy about Bertrand and his merry men taking command of KA-6 for battle once more, but he promised the curator when he met her a few days ago: "Madam, I will not sink her."

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