By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG sailor Jake Newman has won a 2015 Etchells Australian Championship while crewing on a boat skippered by national sailing legend John Bertrand.
Bertrand, Newman and third crewmember, former St Kilda AFL player Bill Browne, sailing Triad, won the championship in Adelaide in a come-from-behind victory.
Triad was third coming into the final race of the series but came home with a wet sail to claim the trophy.
After the win Bertrand, who skippered Australia II to its 1983 America’s Cup victory, paid tribute to his crew.
“To win, you do need the help of others. Jake Newman is very talented and underrated,” Betrand said.
“He’s good at seeing wind on water and possesses a wonderful feel for boat speed. He’s a younger version of (Olympic gold medallist) Tom Slingsby.
“Billy Browne and I go back to the 1992 Etchells World Championship. We have sailed a lot together. He’s super competitive.”
Bertrand said Triad’s next outing would be in Geelong in March for the Victorian title, again crewed by Newman and Browne.
