John Bertrand AO has received his Barranjoey Pin at the Australian Sailing Team (AST) camp in Melbourne. The pin is a symbol of Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic sailing legacy and was presented to Bertrand by two-time Olympic gold medallist Matt Wearn, marking a proud and long-awaited moment for one of Australia’s most influential sailing figures.
For Bertrand, whose name is etched into national memory through the 1983 America’s Cup victory, this recognition reached back to where it all began: his Olympic journey. The Barranjoey Pin is part of the AST alumni program and although the program was formalised in 2018, the first pins were awarded for achievements dating back to 1948, creating an unbroken line of tradition that now stretches to pin number 249, recently presented to Ethan McAullay.
Every athlete who represented Australia at an Olympic-class World Championship, the IYRU Women’s Worlds, the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games prior to 2006 and finished inside the top ten, receives a uniquely numbered pin. Since 2006, all athletes who have achieved Australian Sailing Team status have also been awarded one as part of their induction.
Bertrand, an Olympic bronze medallist in the Finn class in 1976, reflected, “Well, talk about serendipity, my home club, the Australian Sailing Team on the road to Los Angeles, it’s pretty, it’s a beautiful thing.” His America’s Cup triumph became his global calling card, but it was his Olympic campaign that shaped the mindset behind that historic victory.
“Probably three or four months after I won the bronze, it became clear to me I believed I could have won the gold just as easily if I was mentally tougher,” said Bertrand. “And in hindsight, that was the important part of winning the America’s Cup because it led me on the road to the whole world of resilience, sports psychology, the power of the minds, just as importantly as the thousands of hours you do out on the racetrack for training.”
Today, Bertrand received pin number 47, the same number as his Etchell bow number, with his granddaughter, who had her first day on the job at Royal Brighton Yacht Club, taking a break to see her grandfather receive his pin.
With the wisdom and presence that have defined his career, Bertrand helped open the AST camp with a powerful message to the next generation of Australian sailing talent. He urged them to take ownership of their journey, make the most of every resource at their disposal, and be ready to deliver their absolute best when it matters most.
He left them with a reminder that cut straight to the heart of Olympic competition: “There’s nowhere to hide in the Olympic Games. The lessons are very clear if you’re willing to study the areas of opportunity.”
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