The feud is said to have erupted during the 1983 Sydney to Hobart yacht race in Australia.
Turner, already a celebrated sailor after winning the America’s Cup in 1977 aboard Courageous, entered the race hoping to add another prestigious title to his résumé.
During the closing moments of the race, Turner’s yacht Condor ran aground after an encounter with Nirvana, a vessel owned by media executive Marvin Greene and sponsored by Murdoch.
Although Nirvana crossed the finish line first, Turner launched a formal protest claiming the yacht had interfered with his route.
As officials deliberated at Tasmania’s Wrest Point Hotel and Casino, Turner is said to have entertained sailors and reporters with discussions about world politics, television, and his friendship with Fidel Castro.
He also offered $100,000 for proof of the existence of the Tasmanian tiger. Turner ultimately won the protest, with Nirvana disqualified and Condor awarded first line honors.
But celebrations quickly descended into chaos at the post-race dinner when a drunken Turner is understood to have launched into what witnesses described as a “long and rambling speech” – attacking Murdoch and challenging him to a televised fistfight in Las Vegas.