America's Cup skipper John Bertrand wins Australian Etchells title

6:25 AM Sat 15 Jan 2011 GMT

'Triad crew (L to R) Grant Simmer Andrew Palfrey and John Bertrand currently lead the 2011 Rex Gorell Prestige Etchells Australian Championship' Etchells Media

John Bertrand, current Etchells World Champion successfully defended his Australian title today with the help of crew, Grant Simmer (bow) and Andrew 'Dog' Palfrey (mid boat). Bertrand who won the America's Cup for Australia in 1983 has been sailing Etchells since 1990 after joining the One Design class, which had been his America's Cup arch-rival Denis Connor's favourite class for a long time. John Bertrand explained dockside ?After we won the Cup in 1983, I did not really go near a sail boat for seven years. Then two good friends of mine, Ernie Lawrence and Bill Browne got me into ...

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by Etchells Australian Championship 2011 Media