The Brash Mr. Bond

From the moment he arrived in Newport last June with his twelve-meter yacht Southern Cross, Alan Bond has been upsetting the genteel traditions of America's Cup competition. First the Australian land promoter and mining tycoon uncrated 20,000 cans of Aussie Courage beer in a resort that prefers champagne or gin-and-tonics. Then he gave in to his crassly commercial instincts, briefly sporting the name of his own 20,000-acre development on the transom of his yacht. Finally, Southern Cross's tender rudely ran an opposition boat off its practice course. As if all that were not enough, later this month the brash Bond could well upset the oldest racing tradition in Newport: the U.S.'s unbroken, 123-year grip on the Cup.

Southern Cross took an important step in that direction last week when she swept a best-four-of-seven series against the French hope, France, to become the official challenger for the Cup. By this week Bond should know which American vessel Southern Cross will face off Newport in the final races that begin Sept. 10: the new aluminum Courageous, backed by an East Coast syndicate, or Intrepid, the wooden, two-time Cup winner from California.

Whichever American boat he faces, Bond, 36, is ready to give Newport its most competitive race in decades. Mounting the challenge has cost him $9 million, but he figures the money is well spent. The major purpose of Bond's nautical campaign is to promote his projects in Western Australia, particularly Yanchep Sun City, a recreational development near Perth. On that score, says Bond, "we have already won." Almost as an afterthought, he adds: "Only the sporting outcome of the race is left to be determined."

He has spared nothing in pursuit of victory. Bond paid for a complete marina and twelve-meter training facilities at Sun City. He gained the services of Robert Miller, a brilliant, self-taught designer who produced the banana yellow Southern Cross. Bond cash also provided Southern Cross with an on-board computer named Fred that helped evaluate the boat's early performance, and flashed salty admonitions (like "Piss off') to the navigator.

When Southern Cross arrived in Newport, Bond rotated skippers to hone their competitive edge; he did not name Jim Hardy captain until July 28. The promoter brought to Newport Gretel II, Australia's ill-fated challenger from 1970, to serve as Southern Cross's sparring partner, and a retinue of 41, including three of his own sailmakers. Should there be a protest during the race, Bond is ready with a rules expert and lawyer, plus a video-tape camera to record all races for replay. "Expert advocacy," says Bond, "is as much a part of racing now as a boat." All this may offend the guardians of the Cup, but Bond is not concerned. "To say this is a gentleman's sport is to be under illusions," he insists. "Those days are gone."

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