Triple America's Cup skipper Sir James Hardy has been remembered for bringing renown and glory to Australia and for his fundamental role in wrestling the "Auld Mug" from the Americans in 1983.
Sir James passed away in Adelaide last week aged 90.
At a state funeral on Friday, cup-winning skipper John Bertrand told mourners just how important Sir James was in ending the 132-year US dominance of the race.
"He was fundamental in our ability to win the America's Cup. There's no confusion there," Bertrand said of the man he called his mentor.
"We were under huge pressure to be the first nation to have beaten the Americans at their own game with all the controversy and all the different politics.
"Jim for me was the steadying force. He'd been there and seen it all."
Serving as adviser and relief helmsman on Australia II in 1983, Sir James had skippered Australian yachts in three previous challenges in 1970, 1974 and 1980.
He also sailed in two consecutive Olympics, in 1964 in Tokyo and 1968 in Mexico City and in 1994 was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame
But Bertrand said a lesser-known but equally important sailing achievement was Sir James' world championship victory in the 505 dinghy class in Adelaide in 1966, when he beat a four-time Olympic champion from Denmark.
"That's probably one of the finest results that this country has ever generated," Bertrand said.
Family members told the gathering Sir James was a "true hero of our era" but someone who didn't believe he was any more important than anyone else.
"A man who, for more than half a century, strode the world stage and brought renown and glory to Australia while at the same time engendering deep admiration and respect for Australians and from Australians," his nephew Bill Hardy said.
Known as "Gentleman Jim", Sir James was made an OBE in 1975 and knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1981 for services to yachting and the community.
He served as a director of the fledgling Sydney Swans in the AFL and was chairman of the family company that produced some of the nation’s most popular wine brands.
He started working for Hardys in 1953 in a variety of roles, with the company releasing a sparkling wine range in his honour in the late 1980s.
Sir James served on many boards and councils, including the Landcare Foundation.
He is survived by his wife Joan, brother David, sister Pamela and sons David and Richard.
In a touching farewell, Joan said Sir James was the love of her life.
"I've treasured every moment we've spent together. One day we'll be together again," she said.
"Go peacefully to your place of rest. My deepest love."
