The highest profile syndicate was the professional and well funded Alan Bond group which had won the 1983 Cup and which had a wealth of experience, having been to Newport as challengers in 1974, 1977, 1980 and 1983.
Close Bond associate Warren Jones was the syndicate director and veteran 12-metre helmsman John Longley managed the day-to-day business.
[4] Some commentary has stated that John Bertrand had fallen out of favour with the Bond syndicate because of the publication of his book Born to Win.
[5] Australia III's launch was a stage managed event with a lavish ceremony at Royal Perth Yacht Club which included Bond's wife Eileen naming the boat.
It was built at Cottesloe by boatbuilder Stephen Ward and designed by Ben Lexcen, the same team which had produced Australia II.
[1] National small boat champion Fred Neill initially skippered South Australia with 12-Metre veteran Sir James Hardy.
[1] New South Welshman Philip Thompson was appointed helmsman and, following poor early showings, became the replacement skipper with John Savage in the afterguard.
[6][5] The afterguard of the Kookaburra boats were combined for the Cup finals, with Gilmour acting as skipper in the pre-race through the start, while Murray would take the helm for the race itself.
[1][5] The design was selected by Cole after testing 22 hull shapes and 11 winged keel variations at the Netherlands Ship Model Basin during 1985.
Steven Kemp was the tactician and Robin Doussen the navigator, Joe English was later recruited during the semi-finals after South Australia was knocked out in series 3 .