The father of Australia's historic victory in the 1983 America's Cup is in an induced coma: Aland Bond is being treated in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Perth after undergoing heart surgery. The 77-year-old's family described Bond's recovery prospects as "uncertain".
Aland Bond is one of the most colourful men in the history of the America's Cup. He made the surprise victory of the "Australia II" possible in 1983, but was later sentenced to prison for a billion-dollar fraud.
In 1983, "Australia II" was the first non-American yacht in 132 years of Cup history to win sailing's most famous trophy. Bond's former skipper John Bertrand said Bond was robust and would fight for his life. Bertrand told New Zealand television station 3news: "Without Alan we would never have developed the expertise to beat the Americans at their own game. Every time I've met Alan Bond he's been incredibly positive. His resilience is remarkable." Bertrand said the Australian victory over Dennis Conner's team would never have been possible without Alan Bond.
The challenger round to the America's Cup was named the Louis Vuitton Cup in 1983. In this round, Bond's men skippered by Bertrand made a triumphant march through in 1983 before defeating the team of Cup legend Dennis Conner 4:3 in a breathtaking series over the maximum duration in the duel for the jug on the radically constructed keel of the "Australia II" by Ben Lexcen. Conner returned the favour in 1987 and brought the silver jug back to San Diego.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
