Conference unifix::sailing

    re Dennis' letter...
    My first thought was, "Oh no, here we go again with what is and
    isn't a legitimate 12 meter boat!". 
    
    With a little retrospect I end up with two scenarios. THe first has
    Dennis in a poor light as a hopelessly paranoid emotional cripple who
    reacts violemtly to any possible threat (in this case, a very fast
    plastic boat). 
    
    The second casts Dennis in a more favorable light. Here, he is a
    responsible person seeking to raise any possible sources of controversy
    to the light of day early in the contest. If this had been done early
    in the '83 match the whole affair might have gone off with little of
    the bitterness that came out over the questions over the "keel". 
    
    Is he questioning  the use of unauthorized materials? I thought the
    rules had been changed to allow just about anything in construction.
    I believe spent uranium is prohibited as ballast but I'm not aware
    of any other materials that are prohibited.
    
    Ed 

My understanding is that Dennis has not formally PROTESTed the New Zealand
yacht and that under IYRU rules this can only be done when actually racing.
Dennis hasn't raced New Zealand yet, hence no protest. 

What he has done is to write a letter to the measurers asking that they test 
whether the New Zealand fibreglass yachts means the 12 meter rules on uniform 
hull thickness. I assume he has information that they didn't do this. It is a 
little rough on the boat because apparently it requires taking several core 
samples from the hull.

- Bob

.... the 12 meter rules on uniform hull thickness ....

Could you explain a little further? Does this mean uniform (plus/minus
how much) everywhere? If you really want to be particular, would a
reinforcing pad for a winch/thru hull/keel bolt/mast step etc
bonded/welded to the hull violate the uniform thickness requirement? If
Conner were really clever, he'd get someone else to raise this question.
I thought that the defender could set whatever rules he chose, like
kangaroo hides for sails. 

Frankly, I thought that the multiple rating certificates Conner had last 
time were far more contrary to the spirit of good conduct and sportsmanship
than anything anyone else did. The Aussies effectively raced, and beat, 
three different boats. 

Alan

    According to the newspaper reports here one of reasons for the query on
    thickness is so they can find out if carbon fibre was used during the
    construction of KZ7 thus providing strength with lesser weight.
    Since the construction was approved and supervised by Lloyds I can't
    see why any further investigation is warranted - if you can't trust
    them who can you?
    
    I guess the only real problem is that he wants holes drilled - the
    boat wasn't designed with them holes (however small) so if that
    eventuates I think it only fair that every other boat have holes
    drilled in exactly the same spots otherwise KZ7 could then be accused
    of having a lighter boat because we've got more holes than anyone
    else!
    
    /Owen	:-)
    
    

    Some ramblings...
    
    If there is a "uniform thickness" rule, it would seem to prohibit
    any fiberglass boat from competing. Maybe the folks drafting the
    rules were assuming that metal (aluminum) plate would always be
    used?! But they must use different gauges of plate for different
    parts of the hull. This is all very confusing  
    
    Waiting until Race 11 for the protest and the letter could be worse
    than waiting to see who shot J.R.! 
    
    IOR racing never seems to raise this sort of controversy. Is the source
    of the controversy in the "meter" rules or "Cup" rules? I'd love to
    have a match where we didn't have to put up with questions of whether
    Dutch programmers helped Lexcen or the Kiwis used
    illegal/illegitimate/unauthorized/impure/unregistered stuff. Where is
    Ted Turner when you need him? I'll never forget him saying during the
    elimination series, "We're gonna go out there and have some fun". 

    I like USA, high tech, Gary Mull, Tom Blackaller. I want Courageous
    and Challenge France to win some more races.
    

     re .0:
     
     Beg pardon?
     
     re .4:
     
     Drilling holes sounds like a decent idea to me, especially if they
     drill enough and if the holes are big enough.
     
     --Mr Topaz

Associated Press Tue 14-OCT-1986 04:46              America's Cup-Controversy

      FREMANTLE, Australia (AP) - The syndicate backing Dennis Conner's
Stars & Stripes, one of the prime challengers for the America's Cup,
resumed its pressure Tuesday for a new survey of the fiberglass New
Zealand boat.
   In a letter to the other 12 yacht clubs vying for the right to
face Australia in the America's Cup beginning Jan. 31, 1987, the San
Diego-based Sail America syndicate again asked the Yacht Club Costa
Smeralda to take core samples of the boat.
   The Italian club is in charge of the elimination series that will
determine the challenger.
   The letter, presented Sunday, was made public Tuesday by
syndicate chief Malin Burnham
   The controversy is based on whether the New Zealand boat is
lighter than the others in its bow and stern. If it is it would be
able to make better headway in heavy seas.
   Burnham said his syndicate seeks to have the Italian yacht club
call a meeting of the Challengers Committee to decide if the
Committee wants to have the New Zealand boat resurveyed.
   He said informal contacts with the other syndicates indicated at
least 10 favored a resurvey.

   Yacht Club Costa Smeralda has the right to call a committee
meeting, and Burnham believed a meeting could also be called if so
demanded by two-thirds of the challengers.
   Burnham said the syndicate had not decided whether Stars &
Stripes will fly a protest flag when it meets New Zealand. The
meeting is the first between the two boats in the opening round of
the series.
   The winner of the race will be in good position to win the first
round. New Zealand won its first seven races, while Stars & Stripes
won six of its first seven.
    

Associated Press Wed 15-OCT-1986 06:46                 America's Cup-Bertrand

      FREMANTLE, Australia (AP) - John Bertrand, the man who skippered
Australia II to its historic America's Cup victory over Dennis
Conner and Liberty in 1983, today called the controversy over New
Zealand's fiberglass yachts ``the best thing that could have
happened'' to the New Zealanders.
   The syndicate backing Conner's boat, Stars & Stripes, has asked
that samples be taken from the New Zealand, the only fiberglass boat
in the challenger series that will determine the boat that will race
the Australian defender for the Cup. It contends that the New
Zealand is too light, giving it an advantage in heavy seas.
   The boat has been certified as legal by Lloyd's Registry of
London, which oversaw the design and construction of the boats.
   Bertrand, an observer in this year's America's Cup competition,
said he expects the New Zealand to be ruled legal.
   Bertrand also said he expects New Zealand, skippered by Chris
Dickson, to win its showdown with Stars & Stripes Thursday. New
Zealand has won all nine of its first-round races in the opening
round-robin series, while Stars & Stripes is 8-1.
   ``I expect sparks and I expect protests,'' Bertrand said
Wednesday.
    
   Bertrand also disagreed with critics who have accused Conner of
bad sportsmanship.
   ``I see it differently,'' he said. ``It's terrific for the New
Zealanders because it increases their profile worldwide. It
motivates the New Zealand community.''
   He also said the controversy should help New Zealand's
fund-raising efforts at home.
   ``The more mystique they can build ... the better they'll be in
this long summer of racing.The New Zealanders should be laughing.''
    

Note 119.17     America's Cup in OZ - Scoreboard and Commentary         17 of 19
SNOV17::CZARNIK "Larry Czarnik, Sydney Australia, 6" 82 lines  13-OCT-1986 23:55

      Newspapers report that Lloyds Register of Shipping has given the 
      all-clear to New Zealand's yacht.  A Lloyds senior surveyor states 
      that plans and construction specifications were fully approved before 
      building began.  A surveyor for Lloyds in Southampton had been on 
      hand 16 hours a day monitoring the yachts construction.  However, 
      organiser of the Challenger Elimination races, Yacht Club Costa 
      Smeralda, has asked its technical committee to devise a way of 
      checking whether yachts have a constant hull thickness through their 
      length.  If ANY does not, the club says, it will be disqualified and 
      a runnerup substituted.

Note 119.19     America's Cup in OZ - Scoreboard and Commentary         19 of 19
SNOV17::CZARNIK "Larry Czarnik, Sydney Australia, " 102 lines  15-OCT-1986 00:18
      
      Further feeding the controversy, TV coverage of the NZ vs White
      Crusader match demonstrated how with White Crusader catching a lot of
      water over the bow while on the same leg, New Zealand's bow did not
      break the waves. Other syndicates are now estimating that New Zealand
      could be as much as 200 lbs lighters in the bow and 200 lbs lighter
      in the stern giving supposed unfair advantage to the Yacht.  Although
      "cleared" by Lloyds registry, the International Committee still has
      to rule. 

Associated Press Mon 20-OCT-1986 07:05            America's Cup-Courageous IV

      FREMANTLE, Australia (AP) - Courageous IV, the sentimental
favorite among the challengers, has dropped out of the quest to
return the America's Cup to the United States, the boat's owners
said Monday.
   Leonard Green, head of the Courageous syndicate, announced that
as of Oct. 30 the 30-month Courageous challenge, sponsored by the
Yale Corinthian Yacht club will end.
   Norman S. Rosenblum, administrative coordinator, said efforts to
purchase Stars & Stripes 85, Dennis Conner's reserve boat, failed
because the price could not be met.
   Rosenblum said the Stars & Stripes syndicate offered very
favorable terms, but unless an ``angel'' comes forth before Oct. 29.
... ``and we all know that miracles rarely happen.''
   Both Rosenblum and skipper Dave Vietor said that Courageous,
which twice successfully defended the cup for the United States, and
was involved in three other challenges, had become outdated and was
not equal competition for the newer 12-meter yachts.
   ``We all know that America II, New Zealand and Stars & Stripes
are going to be in the semifinals, and that leaves one slot open,''
Vietor said.

       Courageous IV won only one of its 12 first-round matches, and was
clearly outclassed by its speedier rivals, except at the starts when
Vietor won a majority.
    

    This was posted in the AUSTRALIA conference, but I am trying to
    cover all the basses. Thanks VCS
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    
 Hi!
    
 I am trying to get an URGENT message to an American who is crewing on
 the American boat COURAGEOUS. [Yes I know the boat has dropped out,
 but the crew is still there.]
              
    His name is PAUL RUNYAN. The message is he MUST call David Carter
    immediately. It is really important!!!!
    (Work telephone in USA 212-909-9577, new home # 212-517-9475)
                                           
        (I think he is on the crew. Then again he could be scraping
        the bottom and just telling us he is crewing)          
                                                               
    Can anybody tell me anyway of getting a message to him via the net
    or via DEC people in Australia?

    I would appreciate any HELP!
              
    Thanks .  
    VCS       
              
    

re .11
    
    See Australia conference for reply.
    
    Larry

Associated Press Tue 28-OCT-1986 02:05                   America's Cup Briefs

      FREMANTLE, Australia (AP) - The New York Yacht Club is confident
that the America's cup will soon return to its longtime home in
Newport, R.I.
   But William Packer, general manager of the America II syndicate,
has said he is unsure whether Newport would have enough docks to
accommodate the growing number of syndicates seeking yachting's
greatest prize.
   ``What concerns us is that there is less boatyard space now than
there was in 1983,'' Packer said.
   He said a new condominium development had swallowed up the former
site of the Newport offshore yard, used by some syndicates.
   Packer also pointed out that the number of yachting syndicates
competing in Fremantle this year has risen from nine in 1983 at
Newport to 17 with 31 boats.
   ``Four new countries - Germany, Spain, Finland and Japan, will be
involved in 12-meter racing for the first time in the world
championship races off Sardinia in june of 1987, so there's no
telling how many syndicates and countries will be in competition by
1990,'' he said.
   ---
   Ben Lexcen, the man who designed Australia II, the 12-meter that
took the cup from the United States, is thinking smaller these days.
   His new mini-12 was launched Wednesday at Fremantle. It is
basically a scaled-down version of Australia II, complete with
winged keel.
   Mini-12s are becoming popular in the yachting world. They are
small, relatively inexpensive and can be sailed and raced by one
person.
   Lexcen, who also designed Australia III and IV, designed his boat
so that it is self-righting and unsinkable. Just under 16 feet in
length, the ``Ben Lexcen mini 12'' will be marketed both in
Australia and overseas.
   ---
   Gary Jobson, the voice of ESPN for the America's Cup and a
veteran cup racer, and his wife Janice are expecting twins.
   Jobson said the babies will be born around Christmas time.
   ``They'll be natural-born Aussies,'' said the New York yachtsman,
who was Ted Turner's tactician on Courageous in 1977.
   ---
   Bicycle thieves are plaguing the America's Cup yacht syndicates,
which use the two-wheelers to get around Fremantle.
   The operations manager for Chicago's Heart of America challenger,
Walter Larkin, left his bike unlocked outside the boat's compound.
   He returned to find a subtle reminder from the syndicate's dock
team not to do it again.
   His bike was hanging from the hook of the yacht hoist, 33 feet
above the water.
   ---
   White Crusader II, alias the ``hippo'' boat, has been dropped
from the America's Cup competition, but it will serve a useful
purpose during the big races.
   The Royal Thames syndicate has a painted white horse challenger
on her hull and is taking guests out to watch White Crusader I
perform.
   The David Hollom-designed ``hippo'' just did not measure up as
well as the Ian Howlett-designed twelve.
   ---
   The word is that Dennis Conner no longer has any financial
worries for his Stars & Stripes syndicate.
   The Budweiser brewing company, which had previously announced
backing of more than $2 million, is believed to have come up with
more money to keep the campaign rolling.
   ---
   Is there another controversy brewing over the hulls of the
12-meter yachts?
   The controversy over the fiberglass New Zealand yachts has
brought out rumors that the American yachts may be using a new
secret aluminum alloy.
   The alloy was originally specified by the Boeing Aircraft Corp.
for construction of heavy passenger jets and military bombers for
which the weight factor is a key design necessity.
   It is rumored that the giant aluminum manufacturer, Alcan, has
made the same alloy available to at least two of the
California-based cup challengers.
   It is said that the tantalum alloy is a space-age material that
reduces the weight of the alloy from between 20 and 30 percent.
   If used in 12-meter boats, the new alloys would have the effect
of reducing the weight in the ends of the hulls, and in so doing
making the boats pitch less in rough seas.
   There is no word as to whether the two California syndicates used
the alloy, or whether it would be declared illegal.
    

    TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:  THERE ARE TWO VIDEOS PRODUCED BY MCG FOR
    MSD CONCERNING THE USE OF DIDGITAL COMPUTERS BY THE SAIL AMERICA 
    SYNDICATE, DENNIS CONNOR'S GROUP, AND TASKFORCE '87, THE IAIAN MURRAY
    GROUP.  THEY ARE "THE MEASURE OF PERFORMANCE" AND "THE 12TH MAN."
    COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM TAPE DUPLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION IN
    MKO, CALL 264-5688, OR HYSTER::VERGITH.  THEY EACH RUN 10 MINUTES,
    AND TELL THE STORY FROM THE SAILORS' POINT OF VIEW.  THEY MAKE GOOD
    MEETING OPENERS/CLOSERS, AND THE SPEAKERS STRESS GOOD DEC MESSAGES
    LIKE CAPABILITY, SERVICE, AND PRODUCT (ESPICALLY THE MICROVAX II'S.)
    HOPE VIEWERS ENJOY, AND RESPOND!
    
 (	

Dennis Conner: 'no one would build a fiberglass 12 Meter unless he 
wanted to cheat'

Conner is a national embarrassment, a man with no class. New Zealand 
ought to sue him for libel. Why doesn't Conner shut the hell up and 
either sail faster or go home?

    Blackhaller (sp?) of USA seems no better..  He is consistently insulting
    reporters, insulting other yachtsman, and playing the ugly american
    to the fullest.  Kind of reminds me of Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack.
    
    Rick

    I have viewed Blackaller as the boisterous type (in otherwords I
    dont take his spouting off seriously). Conners, on the otherhand,
    is the serious quiet type (I take what he says to be exactly what
    he means).
    
    Neither have been a credit to the US yachting sportsman. I too am
    embarassed by Conners, and would wish Blackaller could just button
    it up and do the job.
    
    Walt

    re .15
    I don't know Alan, Gary Jobson, ESPN's "expert" has picked Dennis
    to take it all. I wish someone would tell Dennis that it really
    is a sporting event.
    
    I kinda like Blackaller. He seems to be the only one having fun
    out there. His comments about the Kiwis sandbagging were somewhat
    lacking in taste. (Did I say somewhat!) I would say that Blackaller
    and McMahon are fairly comparable. 
    
    Where is Ted Turner when we need him!! :-)
    
    Ed 

    I don't know why everyone thinks poorly of the Yanks down here,
    but the Kiwis are just as bad.  It seems nobody remembers that Michael
    Fay said that no one would put hole into his yacht KZ7 unless it
    was over his dead body.
    
    He of course said that in the heat of the moment, because when the
    formal remeasurement was to take place he made no real objections.
    Although he did admit to laying down on the dock, making the Lloyd's
    measurer step over him !
    
    I think all us arm chair sailors should sit back and think a moment. We
    are not responsible for the millions of dollars that are being poured
    into these yachts, and the pressures and emotions of those that are
    responsible must be very high.  That is not to condone some of the
    remarks that have been made, just a reflection on human nature. I mean,
    when was the last time you were at a ball game between your favourite
    team and some arch rival and didn't stand up and yell that the umpire
    was a crook or the rival team was cheating !
    
    I certainly feel that watching real life is a whole lot more
    interesting than any soapie !
    
    Larry, the Yank in Oz

re .15

Beg to differ. Dennis Conner is not a national embarrassment, in fact a lot of 
nice things have been said about the way he has run his camp in Perth. 

On the other hand, I do agree Dennis is confused. Dennis is confusing 12-metre
racing with one-design racing. One design racing implies boats like J24s,
Flying Scots, Lasers and Sunfish. 12 metre yachts are boats build to a rule,
and we know there is a long history of boats being built to beat a rule (eg.
IOR) and a long history of sailors complaining about it. The worst this
makes Dennis is normal.

- Bob

    Unfortunately, yacht racing is just another reflection of the change
    in competitive sports over the past several years.  Cheap shots
    on the gridironn; riots by fans over soccer games; profanity and
    temper tantrums on the tennis courts . . . these are all indicative
    of an unfortunate trend in modern society.  Long before any of us
    was born Sir Thomas Lipton was losing fortunes and yacht races and
    being a "gentleman" in the process. It's too bad that "tradition"
    couldn't have survived. 

    	Good sportsmanship and yacht racing are almost mutually
    incompatible and don't go together without some vigorous persuasion.
    Tape record the conversation around you the next time you're on
    the starting line or in the protest room.  I don't think you would
    want to play it back in front of your kids.  If anything, this series
    is civilized and above board compared to Newport in 1983.  Guys
    mouthing off during the heat of competition is one thing.
    Institutional skullduggery on the scale of the NYYC and Australia
    the last time around is a whole nother ball game.  Hell - if weren't
    for Conner and Blackaller calling each other names we'd have nothing
    to watch.  When it comes to spectator appeal, yacht racing doesn't
    hold a candle to pro wrestling.
      
    	However, not everything we hear from the players can be attributed
    to adrenaline or puberty.  I'm particularly fond of one from Conner.
    Something along the lines of "of 40 twelves built, 39 have been
    aluminum.  The engineers can't be all wrong".  Conner may be "100%
    happy" now that New Zealand's boat has been drilled out and proven
    legal but he's still got an aluminum hull underneath him.  It's
    not clear which engineers he's talking about but 39 of them are
    probably scratching their heads now.
    
    	I am an expert on aluminum and plastics.  I have aluminun gutters
    on one side of my house and plastic on the other.  Extensive empirical
    testing conducted during the leaf season with a 30 foot wooden ladder
    proves beyond all reasonable doubt that plastic is stiffer than
    aluminum.  You want more proof.  Squash a beer can then try it with
    a baby bottle.  Makes you humble.  Ergo, Conner is going to run a 
    marathon with a rubber crutch against the Kiwis in a Porche.  
    Faced with that prospect, I'd be a little incoherent from time to time.
      
    	During my extensive travels on the international yacht racing
    circuit I once saw (but did not sail on) Ted Hood's Robin as it
    was rafted between two similar sized boats in a modest storm.  A
    very nice looking boat at the beginning of the day.  The next day
    after the boats stopped bouncing I walked by again to contemplate
    which boat to buy when I grow up.  But Robin looked different. 
    There appeared to be an odd glare coming from the topsides at mid-
    beam.  But it was overcast so it wasn't the sun.  As I looked closer
    it finally occurred to me that Robin had done an imitation of my
    $3 garbage can.  Its sides had been squashed in by the rubbing against
    its neighbors despite some big bumpers.  But the neighbors loooked
    fine.  Robin is aluminum but its neighbors are glass.  The keel
    on a twelve weighs about 2 Robins.  I can imagine the job it does
    on the fairness of the hull when it's bouncing around in 12 foot
    seas.
    
    	There are brief microseconds when I'm glad I'm not rich enough
    to be a member of the NYYC syndicate.  Imagine spending the entire
    developement for the next generation VAX and having only an 11/23
    to show for it.
     
    	Blackaller's bet is the best slip of the tongue he's ever made.
    The Kiwis had everything to gain by losing to NYYC and, in fact,
    were behind for 4 or so legs.  The $5000 kept them honest and USA
    in the finals.  The British can only wish they could have bought their
    way in so cheaply.

I agree that that when racing boats are built to whatever rule, it is
proper to question the legality of a competing boat. There is also an
appropriate time to ask the question. As I understand it, the New
Zealand syndicate consulted with Lloyds before building its boats to
ensure that their fiberglass hulls would be legal. Lloyds agreed that
the design(s) were legal and then supvervised the building. The support
from the other challengers for Conner's assertions that the New Zealand
boats are illegal has been underwhelming. It seems to me that the time
to question the legality of the New Zealand boats is long, long past.
The referee has ruled, and for Conner to continue to complain is
unseemly. To accuse one's opponents of INTENDING to cheat is really
ungentlemanly, unnecessary, and most inappropriate. Conner's continued
complaints at this late date only make it appear that he fears he cannot 
win by outsailing New Zealand. Would Conner be complaining if New Zealand
weren't beating everyone? He'd probably be making some tasteless remark
instead about how foolish the Kiwis were to think that they could build
a fast fiberglass when experience (tradition?) has shown that aluminum
is the only way to go. I guess I'm just too idealistic -- I expect our
representatives to behave like gentlemen who practice good sportsmanship
(like Sir Thomas Lipton). Having lots of money to spend does not, for
me, excuse vulgar behavior. 

I have a truly radical idea: Give each 12 Meter syndicate, defender and 
challenger, the same number of dollars (say $5 million) to spend on 
their campaign. Spend more and you don't race. 

    sorry Alan, but i think you are dead wrong on two points:
    
    1. whats 5 million dollars. who is pricing the hardware? would the
       sponsers offer it for free or cost to lower the price. what about
       the price of labor? is all the technology going to go overseas
       to cut costs? Is r&d included? what happens if you build two
       boats, do you get to spend $10 million. the loopholes are 
       frightening.
    
    2. you want to see seamanship, go one design. want high tech? get
       some catamarans. I thought the idea was to be given a set of
       parameters and anything goes from there. money is no object.
       to me it is much like the awards for automobile high speed runs. it will
       not improve  the lifestyle of the world, other than to say
       it can be done.
    
    as for the Americans, I too am disgusted with the way these guys
    have been acting. I hate pro wrestling as it has no substance, but
    it does have a lot of big mouth bozos. sort of sounds like the 
    children down under. to me connors has got some kind of ego, i
    mean if someone beats him 2 out of three times, they must be
    cheating. Give me a break. Didn't jamie farr do the kiwi boat?
    if so, how many breakthrough boats has he done so far? IOR, 1 tonners,
    etc (not much of a monohull expert?!!!). With a track record like this,
    why does Conners think the guy couldn't pull yet another rabbit
    out of his hat? 
    
    As far as i am concerned, if the boat floats, it fits the size
    parameters,then let the boat race. don't try to change the rules
    just because you might lose (aka 1983 wing keel). We must look like
    some real crybabies in the eyes of a lot of people. Connors should
    give it his best shot, and if he loses, accept the defeat gracefully.
    there is a difference between desire to win, and being a cry-baby.
    Even john McEnroe has finally started to shut up. 
    
    john
                                       

All along it has been said that there was a lot of support for Dennis's
position on testing, if not his choice of words. The attached article about 
the French speaks for itself.

Yes, I believe the NZ boat is legal and I am glad to see fiberglass America's
Cup yachts for the obvious reason that fiberglass has more relevance to the
average sailor. Who knows, the fiberglass developments on NZ may even benefit
me one day. On the other hand, anybody that does anything radical or very
different in 12 meters I think should expect repeated calls for detailed
measurements. I think they should cooperate and I think the rules should
require it. We can criticize Dennis and the French for being undiplomatic in 
their requests for measurements but I can't figure why NZ doesn't say: Sure, 
come on over. This is Gary Jobson's opinion on ESPN, and it's also mine.

- Bob

------

Associated Press Fri 26-DEC-1986 04:46                  America's Cup-Protest

      FREMANTLE, Australia (AP - The controversy surrounding New
Zealand's fiberglass hull was sparked again today when America's
Cup competitor French Kiss threatened legal action if core samples
are not taken of the unbeaten 12-meter yacht.
   The syndicate operating French kiss was reportedly set to seek
an injunction in the New York Supreme Court if it does not receive
satisfaction.
   The New York court administers the deed of gift governing the
cup competition and presumably the injunction, if granted, would
stop New Zealand participating in the semifinals of the America's
Cup challengers' trials, which start Sunday.
   The New Zealanders are scheduled to meet French Kiss in the
best-of-seven series. The winner will meet the winner in the other
semifinals series in which American boats Stars & Stripes and USA
compete.
   French Kiss skipper Marc Pajot said his boat would race Sunday,
but the syndicate indicated it might file a formal protest once the
race had started.
   Commodore Gianfranco Alberini of the yacht club Costa Smeralda,
which is in charge of the challengers' trials, said his
organization believed the resurvey last week of New Zealand was
legal and racing would go ahead.
   New Zealand syndicate chairman Michael Fay has threatened legal
action for defamation and damages should any further allegations be
made against the fiberglass boat.
   He issued the warning immediately after Lloyd's Register of
Shipping had conducted a test on the hull and pronounced it a legal
12-meter boat. The other three challengers were also given approval
in the resurvey.
   This appeared to satisfy everybody, especially the two remaining
American competitors, who had demanded the tests in case the New
Zealanders enjoyed a weight and thickness advantage in their hull.
   The French now claim no data or proof has been released, and
that the test was not accurate enough.
   ``We have to mistrust the results,'' said Admiral Rene Marqueze,
chairman of the French Kiss syndicate.
   He demands proof be furnished and that core samples be taken
from New Zealand's boat and tests.
   According to Marqueze, the electronic instruments used by Bob
Rymill, Lloyd's Register principal surveyor of yachts, ``are not
accurate enough on composite materials (sandwich type fiberglass)
constituting the hull of the new zealand challenge boat.''
   He said, ``If no appropriate action is taken concerning these
two requests, we would refer the matter by injunction to the
tribunal of New York, to be granted redress by a judicial
procedure.''
   The reopening of the issue was not well received by Alberini.
   ``He does not intend to answer the letter,'' said spokesman
Bruno Trouble. ``For him, the matter is closed finally.''
   Marqueze said what the French wanted to know was not asking too
much.
   ``We want to know if the density of the hull varied, and how
much by. Was it 10 percent? That's ok. Was it 30 percent? That we
are not sure of.''
   Pajot said his syndicate is not doubting the honesty of the New
Zealanders. ``We want to be sure, that's all,'' he said, ``We want
them to release the proofs.''

    re: .24
    
    For the record, the designers of the NZ yachts (both KZ7 and trial
    horse KZ5, also fiberglass) are 
    
    	Laurie Davidson,  Bruce Farr  &  Ron Holland
    
    All of whom are New Zealanders.
    
    re: .25    
    
    Lloyd's produces certificates of register.  The content of which
    are made available to the owner.  Lloyds has only indicated to the
    YC Costa Smeralda, Challenger of Record (organizer of Challenger
    series) the compliance of all 4 yachts to the measurement rules
    of 12 metre, not to the specifics of the certificates.
               
    It is this information plus that which is mentioned in .25 that
    the French wish to view.  To this situation can apply a very apt
    Australian saying - The French have 2 chances for the certificates
    to become public, Buckley's and none !
    
    Just thought of an analogy that can be used about the details of
    the certificates and just the fact that the yachts comply to
    measurement rules.  When you purchase something with a credit card
    and the value of the purchase is above the floor limit of
    establishment, the establishment will contact the credit card company
    and after identifying itself, will provide purchase amount and card
    number.  The response from the credit card company is yes or no,
    they will accept that charge.  At no time does the establishment
    get the cardholder's balance or credit limit.
    
    As with previous replies - it makes it interesting, but maybe too
    much ...
    
    Oh well, on with the racing !
    
    Larry - the Yank in Oz
    
    
                          

    Does anyone out there know:
    	1) What 12-metre-class rule it is that the NZ'ers are suspected
    of breaking - I've read in these notes references to hull thickness,
    and lately, hull density?
    
    	2) Why there would be such a rule anyway? - Everyone knows that
    designers/builders try to keep the ends light - why do the rules
    try to prevent it?                           
                                                 

    re: .27
    
    1) The 12 meter class rule is the formula that distinguishes a "12
       metre" yacht for any other class (J24, maxi's (80 ft +)).  Although
       there are many qualifications on this formulae.  I quote from
       Western Australia America's Cup handbook. 
    
    quote -
    
       (L + 2(d - f) + squareroot(s) ) / 2.37 = 12
    
    	where L = lenght of hull at 180mm above the measurement waterline
    and corrections for the fullness of the ends.
    d = difference between the skin girth and the chain girth at the
    55 percent girth situation is taken on both sides of the yacht and
    summed
    F = the average of three freeboards (forward, midship and aft)
    s = is rated sail area (mainsail and fore-triangle) 
    
    An important limitation in the rule is on that each different length
    of waterline reguires a minimum displacement.
    
    If a boat weighs less than the minimum for its waterline length
    it is not a "12 metre" uless changes are made in other dimensions
    or its sail area is reduced.  (LC note - for some reason weight
    is not in formula above, but seems to figure in the rule)
    
    Mast height is limited to 25m, and jib stay height to 75 percent
    of that dimension.  Minimum beam is 3.59m, max draft 2.68m.
    
    end quote
    
    I am sure if you look at all the International Yachting Associations
    complete version of the rule will find restrictions that require the
    hull to have a consistent "thickness" and "density" from bow TO stern.
    
    2) What sport or game do you play ?  Why have any rules for that?
       Even back lot baseball says home plate is "here" and first is
    "there" and while someone is running ynu move first "someplace else".
    
    I heard a good comment once about this rule. It is supposed to be
    flexible enough to allow innovation in design, but you must have
    some rule or you may end up "sailing" a power boat against a sailboat.
    
    So you draw the line someplace.
    
    Larry, the Yank in Oz
    

    

    Does anyone know what the score is?  I've heard that Dennis is up
    by 3, but what are the French doing against NZ (or should I say
    what are the NZ's doing to the French)?
    
    Happy sailing,
    Tom
    
    

    re .29 
    see notes 411 and 412

Associated Press Fri 02-JAN-1987 20:52                   America's Cup-Conner

   Eds: No other version planned
   FREMANTLE, Australia (AP) - Dennis Conner, the man Australians
love to hate, better look out or he'll lose his image.
   Conner, who Friday sailed his way into the America's Cup
challenger finals against New Zealand, made a friend for life with
a young Aussie.
   Jamie Rumsley, 9, of South Fremantle, had the experience of a
lifetime aboard Stars & Stripes with the San Diego skipper.
   It started when Jamie, a 12-meter fan, severely cut his heel on
the pedal of his bicycle outside the San Diego boat's dock.
   Conner heard the boy's cries, and he asked two of the
syndicate's office help to cleanse and bandage the wound. He then
asked Jamie if he would like to sail aboard Stars & Stripes on New
Year's Day.
   ``It was great,'' the youngster said.
   ``I went on the 12-meter, then on Betsy, her tender. I had six
cans of cool drink and three candy bars.''
   Jamie's mother is grateful for another reason.
   ``Jamie hates having zinc oxide cream put on his nose and lips
to protect him from the sun, but Conner made him put some on and
now he reckons it's OK to put cream on his face,'' she said.
   The white zinc oxide on the lips is a Dennis Conner trade mark.

Associated Press Mon 12-JAN-1987 05:33            America's Cup-Stars&Stripes

      FREMANTLE, Australia (AP) - Stars & Stripes skipper Dennis
Conner said today he has added two inches to the tiplets on the
12-meter yacht's winged keel and a new rudder but the sail area had
not been changed for the upcoming America's Cup challenger final
series with New Zealand.
   At a later news conference, John Marshall, a tactician aboard
Stars & Stripes, announced that the boat has been using an
experimental film made by 3M on the underbody of the hull.
   Marshall said the film ``is a thin plastic film that has been
micro-grooved to provide for reduced drag.''
   He said the new bottom film had been in place since the
semifinals series against USA. Stars & Stripes won that series with
four straight victories.
   It is believed film may have played an important role in the
tremendous increase in speed shown by Conner's boat in its series
against USA. USA skipper Tom Blackaller claimed Stars & Stripes was
going two-tenths of a knot faster than it did in previous series.
   Blackaller's figures have been disputed by New Zealand skipper
Chris Dickson who claims that such an increase is an impossibility
without major changes to the boat.
   Conner reportedly has been saying that Stars & Stripes had only
eight more races - four victories against the Kiwis and four
against the defenders, Australia.
   He denied making any predictions and complimented New Zealand's
program and said Dickson is a formidable opponent.
   Conner described Stars & Stripes as probably the faster of the
two boats on a straight line, but that New Zealand was more
maneuverable.
   ``You might describe it as a dragster vs. a Porsche,'' the
veteran skipper said.
   Dickson laughed at suggestions that New Zealand would lose four
straight.
   ``There is no way that is going to happen,'' he snapped. ``One
boat has a record of 37 out of 38 and the other 31 out of 38. One
boat has the better track record.''
    

    I've been watching Dennis and the boys blow New Zealand away by 79
    seconds this morning.  Not nearly as boring as I would have thought. 
    
    ESPN is to be commended on a very fine job of coverage.  The onboard
    camera really helps understand what was going on both with the
    competition and the Stars and Stripes strategy.  Never heard "Hard
    Alee", however.
    
    That's one,
    
    Don

    Stars and Stripes beat New Zealand on almost every leg.  Winning
    margin of 96 seconds in even lighter air than yesterday.
    
    Looks pretty good for the sweep promised by Connors.
    
    In the exciting defenders race K-III beat A-IV by 30 seconds in
    a tight tacking duel.  This race under protest flags by both boats.
    
    Off to sleep a bit before work,
    
    Don

    Don,
    
    Does your mother know you were up that late? Or did you just reset
    the time on your system? :-)) I thought I was a bit of a nut but
    you make me look like a dis-interested party!!!!
    
    Back to the race...
    
    Boy, that live camera is incredible!!! And the sounds!!! 
    
    I haven't been this excited about a tv sporting event since the
    Pats beat Miami last year for the AFC championship.
    
    THe camera placement and range of vision seemed different between
    S&S and K3. Any one know anything about that?
    
    comment on the collision... It looked as if A4 started a turn( forget
    if tack or gybe) and then did something in the middle of the turn
    to slow it down. K3 had started to tack and then when A4 slowed
    down she just rode right up on her stern. Looked like Hull Gut on
    Sunday afternoon at 4pm. Those Aussies have to learn how to drive!
    
    Ed

    Well, actually I always have a screwy sleep schedule in that I subscribe
    to the 'little slices of death' theory on sleep.  In addition, to
    my chagrin, I am leaving for Valbonne on Thursday so it's part of
    getting my body for a hyper jump into jet lag recovery.
    
    What makes me really unhappy is missing the rest of the coverage
    in that I am fairly sure that France stopped coverage once their
    entry got kissed off.
    
    The coverage is really great stuff.  Those mini cameras put you
    right on board under the mast and provide a great sense of everything
    on the boat.  You're right about the difference between the two
    boats.  The S&S camera appears to be a fixed affair while the KIII
    version appears to be completely remote controlled.
    
    I suspect that these are either based on the cameras that they use
    in the ever popular stock car races.
    
    I must say that I'm disappointed with the Aussie driving as well.
    They certainly looked more like C Fleet to me.  They are great sailors
    but it sure didn't look like it yesterday.
    
    Still excited,
    
    Don

    
    So Dennis is 2 - 0 up.
    
    No Sweat !
    
    After all, he does have the backing of the other 4 (?) US challenge
    syndicates to help him improve his performance. That probably equates
    to a $100M+ challenge vs our $5-10M challenge.
    
    That's OK though, he's caught us on the back foot, there's another
    race tonight ...
    
    Good Sailing !
    
    Dave.

    
    	2 - 1; and *COUNTING* !
    

    re .37
    
   >    After all, he does have the backing of the other 4 (?) US challenge
   > syndicates to help him improve his performance. That probably equates
   > to a $100M+ challenge vs our $5-10M challenge.
    
    Come on! Cut the "poor little New Zealand" stuff out. You know damn
    well that every syndicate spent every penny it raised on its own
    efforts. What could S&S use from other boats? Custom hardware? Sails?
    
    And Furthermore!!!
    
    After the three ring circus on the Defender side, it would be
    refreshing to see some good sportsmanship and a spirit of cooperation
    in pursuit of the Holiest of Grails.
    
    Ed

    re: .33, .35 and .36
    
    Sorry guys, the idea for the camera mounted on the yacht is the
    local Sydney station, Channel 7's idea.  It pioneered the camera
    mounted, first in the headlight cavity of the race cars, and then
    mounted were the passenger seat normally goes (not F1 obviously).
    
    It was a natural progression to mount the Race Cam as it was called
    on one of the yachts.  First to get it were the Kookaburra's, due
    in part I suspect to Channel 7's sponsorship of the Taskforce (along
    with Digital Australia's).  At first it was mounted aft, looking
    forward, but seems to have been moved to the mast.  Yes, it is a
    moveable (side to side) mount and if you watch carefully, you will
    see the little wiper go by when the screen over the lens gets too
    much spray.
    
    I have finally found that ESPN is either a cable or TV station,
    and appears to have some sort of sweetheart deal with Channel 7,
    because we seem to always have one of your sweethearts, Gary Jobson
    as a commentator.  Some of the ones we have here are bad enough,
    but Gary ... nuff said !  The deal seems to have provided ESPN with
    a similar set up, but only in the latter stages of the Challenger
    series.  I first saw the S&S camera mounted on the mast, and I think
    now the Aussies mounted the K3 camera on the mast as well, rather
    than looking forward.
    
    re: .37 and .39
    
    Wrong again !  NZ was seen flying a USA (Tom Blackaller's US61)
    spinnaker during a recent race.  It was mentioned that USA had provided
    NZ with any assistance it could to help beat arch rival Dennis Conner.
    
    And the Kiwis have publically stated that "God forbid" (rather I
    say, God rest their souls !), that they should lose the Challengers
    elimination (they have !) that they would support the DEFENDERS
    in any way possible, figuring to keep the Cup in the South Pacific
    is better than letting it go back to the US of A.
    
    Mind you they can't race the baot, but can use sails and more
    importantly, NZ can trial the winning Defender and provide a perfect
    test bed for the Aussies to set up against S&S, since the Aussies
    will know how NZ did against S&S.  Now how can S&S get a similar
    advantage ?
    
    Now one back to you all - no one took up my challenger (from Oz
    notes) to provide the names of all the crew members from all the
    yachts where I could not provide names over the earlier races. 
    Here we are, S&S are the Challenger and I don't even have the names
    of all the S&S crew !
    
    On to Perth !  ( I am on holiday starting Wed 21 Jan to leave for
    Perth on Thursday or Friday, driving across to be there for the
    America's Cup racing.)  Your personal America's Cup reporter has
    arranged access to the Perth office to put in his (hopefully) nightly
    race results.  (Into Oz notes, as response will be bad enough from
    Perth to Sydney, much less to here !).
    
    Anyone else coming.  Love to meet up with you.  Let me know, here,
    in Oz notes or via mail.
    
    Regards,
    Larry - the Yank in Oz, hoping for a Digital - Digital Cup Match !

Headline in a local New Hampshire newspaper:

	"Oh, buoy, it's Stars & Stripes"

Re. .40

NZ supporting the DEFENDERS breaks the tradition of CHALLANGER ganging up on
the DEFENDER, but I can understand NZ doing it to keep the game relatively
near home. However, I do hope though they don't trial the DEFENDER because
that runs the risk of our knowing the results before DEFENDER and CHALLANGER
actually race for the cup. 

- Bob

    
    
    Is it necessary for two boats to have raced each other to gauge
    their relative speed? If not is there any indication which side
    currently is faster? Also if, as has been suggested, NZ does race
    the Aussies in a trial how much help would that actually provide?
                                                                     

    Its is best re gauging speed if ALL variables factor out, hence
    better to 1:1 speed trials. Also helps figuring which conditions
    better for the boat-under-test. The KM/KB trials should help in
    that the Kooks have that nifty DEC uVAX aboard which I assume can
    update sail trim figures under various sailing conditions and differing
    points of sail so they can fine-tune in real time, so to speak.
    Good sailing, Ed

    Match racing is a game of one upmanship.  You dont have to be fast,
    just better than the other boat.  Boats at this level of competition
    often win or lose races based on strategy.  By knowing the strong
    and weak spots of both your boat and the competition you can plan
    escape tactics where you are faster, and covering tactics where you
    are slower.  Having a trial horse like Kiwi Magic to test against
    (having recently gone up against S&S several times) Kookabura will
    better know where it can apply certain tactics, and practice them.
    It will also become apparant to all whether there is a distinct
    speed advantage on either side (although sandbagging during trials
    to throw off the spies is not uncommon).
    
    S&S may also benefit by watching KB III and KM trial, then practicing
    what they percieve will be the race strategy based on the results
    (IE where they think they have boat speed/maneuverability advantages
    and disadvantages).    
        

    Walt

Associated Press Tue 20-JAN-1987 07:04              Americas Cup-Rhode Island

      PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island wasted no time in
congratulating skipper Dennis Conner on his victory in the
America's Cup challenger series and expressed hope a Conner victory
in the finals would bring yachting's greatest prize back to Newport.
   ``I look to welcome you to Rhode Island after you win the Cup,''
Gov. Edward D. DiPrete said Monday in a telegram to Conner, skipper
of the San Diego Yacht Club's Stars & Stripes.
   ``And I would be honored to meet with you personally to offer my
congratulations and to also discuss with you our desire to host the
next races,'' DiPrete's telegram said.
   The state also will let the Australians know it wants the Cup
returned to Newport, the long-time home of the races before Conner
lost to the Australians in 1983.
   The state has bought a full-page ad in a Perth newspaper
Wednesday touting the American challenger and Rhode Island as the
place ``where the Cup belongs.''
   It had been thought that the chances of the Cup races returning
to Newport were killed when New York Yacht Club's entry, America
II, was eliminated.
   But Sail America, the syndicate sponsoring Stars & Stripes, has
hinted in recent weeks that if Conner recaptures the Cup, the
defense might not be held in San Diego.
   Conner reportedly is concerned about light winds and thick
coastal kelp off San Diego.
   Charles Ward, marketing director for Sail America, has said the
city picked to host the races would have to demonstrate sufficient
shore services for up to 30 syndicates and pledge about $25 million
to help the Cup defense organization.
   State officials consider $25 million to be a steep price, but
Tom Ehman, the Newport-based executive director of the America II
effort, said the price was fair.
   ``Twenty-five million is nothing compared to the revenue the
races would generate here,'' he said.
    

    I've been told that the best way for novices to tell K3 apart
    from S&S while viewing on ESPN is not the most obvious.
    (i.e. K3 has the draft stripes and S&S has the blue hull.)
    
    Rather, you only need to check the transoms and K3 will be
    flying the Aussie flag. (believe it's red and generally hoisted
    sometime during the 10 minute pre-start period.)

    The camera on Stars & Stripes is provided by the French telecom
    outfit, Thompson CSF, according to the ESPN play-by-play guy, Jim
    Kelly. I wish Mr. Czarnik could get us one of those Aussie cameras
    on Stars and Stripes. Whaddaya say Larry?? After all, you are right
    there in Perth. :-)
    
    Ed 

Associated Press Tue 20-JAN-1987 15:28                          America's Cup
                                By HOWARD ULMAN   
                               AP Sports Writer
   FREMANTLE, Australia (AP) - Iain Murray is confident he can
compete with Dennis Conner. Whether he wil get the chance is still
uncertain.
   Murray skippered Kookaburra III to a 55-second victory over
Australia IV Tuesday and a 5-0 sweep of their best-of-nine
America's Cup defender finals. Now, though, the victorious boat
will hold speed trials with stablemate Kookaburra II.
   If Kookaburra II, eliminated in the previous round, is judged to
have a better chance of retaining the Cup it could be chosen as the
opponent to Conner's Stars & Stripes in the best-of-seven finals
beginning Jan. 31.
   The criteria used to compare the two Kookaburras have not been
disclosed.
   Murray, who skippered Kookaburra III and still could be on a
Kookaburra II crew, said modifications are being made to Kookaburra
II, a new keel will be put on her and the boat could be back in the
water by Friday.
   Whichever boat is chosen, Murray was optimistic about
Australia's chances against Stars & Stripes.
   ``I've never actually met Big Bad Dennis,'' Murray said. ``I
certainly admire his sailing skill and the people and the
organization he's got.
   ``His boat shows tremendous upwind speed in heavy air. I think
our boat has done the same thing in the last week so I think it
will be an interesting competition.''
   Because of Stars & Stripes' strength in stiff breezes, Murray
said he would prefer lighter winds for the final series.
   ``But,'' he said, ``We're certainly very comfortable with our
performance in the windy breezes, too.''
   The wind was an unusually light 12 to 14 knots Tuesday when
Murray, taking no chances after taking an early lead, ended
Australia IV's last chance to defend the Cup. Kookaburra III
capitalized on a poor start by Australia IV skipper Colin Beashel.
   ``They got a bad start and we sailed a very defensive race today
and really didn't give them any room,'' Murray said.
   The victory appeared to make his boat the likely defender
against Stars & Stripes, which won its best-of-seven series Monday
4-1 over New Zealand.
   Both Kookaburra boats belong to a syndicate headed by Kevin
Parry, who is making his first bid for the Cup. He overcame
Australia IV syndicate head Alan Bond, who was in his fifth Cup
campaign. His Australia II became the first non-American boat to
win the Cup in 1983 at Newport, R.I., when it beat Conner and
Liberty, the boat he skippered.
   Parry lashed out at Bond, a fellow Perth millionaire, at a
postrace news conference.
   At a ceremony after the race at the Royal Perth Yacht Club
annex, Bond had said, ``We won it, Kevin ... don't you lose it.
   ``If Kevin doesn't defend the Cup, we'll go and get it back for
you,'' Bond told the crowd.
   At the news conference, Parry said, ``I don't think it's
necessary to stand up today ... And say `Well, we won it and if you
lose it we'll have to go out and get it back.' I think that's
childish, unnecessary and not worthy of your previous efforts.''
   Bond then repeated an offer to help Kookaburra III but said,
``I'm not going to comment on Mr. Parry's idiosyncracies.''
   The way Kookaburra III wiped out Australia IV left little doubt
that it is a very fast boat in varying weather conditions.
   The wind speed ranged from 12 to 14 knots Tuesday, much calmer
than the breezes that blew at more than 20 knots in the previous
four races.
   In this race, Australia IV was done before she even started.
   With Peter Gilmour handling the prestart maneuevers, which begin
10 minutes before the actual start of the race, Kookaburra III
forced Australia IV close to the committee boat at the right side
of the line.
   By the time skipper Colin Beashel reacted to avoid a possible
collision with the much larger vessel, the start was just seconds
away. He had to circle around behind the line and approach it again.
   Meanwhile, Kookaburra III was off and sailing toward the
windward mark, a 36-second lead in hand.
   ``Once you get behind in these boats, it's tough anyway,''
Murray said, ``And to be behind 30-40 seconds, it's even harder.
   Kookaburra III then led Australia IV around the 24.1-mile Indian
Ocean course without being threatened.
   ``We all feel pretty happy about what we've done,'' Beashel
said. ``We gave it our best shot.''
   Kookaburra III opened an advantage of 39 seconds after the first
leg of the eight-leg race and stretched it to 47 seconds on the
downwind run that followed. Heading back upwind, Kookaburra III got
in front by 1:03 rounding the third mark.
   Australia IV still had some life and cut the lead to 44 seconds
after the fifth leg, a reach.
   Beashel had another chance to close ground on the fifth leg,
another reach, when a problem with the spinnaker set forced
Kookaburra III to drop the sail, then re-hoist it. But Australia IV
could only make up one second of the deficit on the leg.
   Showing its familiar upwind domination, Kookaburra III then
opened a lead of 1:05 after the sixth leg. Australia IV's last hope
was another equipment problem aboard Kookaburra III, unlikely in
the light weather conditions.
   It didn't happen.
   Australia IV had finished ahead of Kookaburra III in six of
their 10 meetings before the defender finals but didn't make
progress after those matches.
   ``If you stand still you go backwards,'' Australia IV spokesman
Warren Jones said. ``We stood still and Iain went forward.''
   Stars & Stripes personnel spent the day mopping up after
Monday's victory over New Zealand. The celebration around the dock
Monday delayed the cleanup.
   The crew was given two days off before taking the boat back onto
the water Friday.
   ``It doesn't make a lot of difference to us'' which Kookaburra
will be the defender, Stars & Stripes coordinator John Marshall
said. ``The Australian boats are more of an unknown to us than the
boats we raced against for three months'' in the challenger
competition.
    

Associated Press Thu 22-JAN-1987 04:40               Americas Cup-New Zealand

      FREMANTLE, Australia (AP) - New Zealand broke an America's Cup
precedent Wednesday and opted to help Kookaburra III defend the Cup
against the American challenger, Stars & Stripes.
   In the past, the challengers customarily have presented a united
front against the defender. But Michael Fay, New Zealand's
syndicate chairman, said his group would make its yacht available
as a trial horse for the Kookaburra Syndicate, which will defend
the Cup in the best-of-seven series beginning Jan. 31.
   A Kookaburra Syndicate director, Ken Court, called the decision
``very good news for us,'' adding that the offer is ``an invitation
we are going to have great pleasure in accepting.''
   Malin Burnham, president of the Stars & Stripes syndicate, said
he was disappointed, but said the decision ``will have little
effect whatsoever on who wins and who loses.''
   Public opinion in New Zealand played a major role in the
decision to reject a request from Dennis Conner's syndicate to
assist with their challenge.
   Conner beat New Zealand 4-1 in the challenger finals.
   Fay said New Zealand's supporters are now solidly behind the
Australian defense of the Cup.
   He said the decision was non-political, although he admitted he
had personal phone calls from New Zealand on the subject, but
refused to say who called him.
   The Kiwi challenge headquarters in Fremantle has thousands of
calls and messages from New Zealanders urging the syndicate not to
help Conner and his San Diego-based team.
   He also reported that callers to New Zealand radio talk shows
unanimously favored support for Australia.
   ``For those unfamiliar with this part of the world, the ties
between our two countries are close and steeped in a long
tradition, going back beyond the beginning of the America's Cup,''
Fay said.``As New Zealanders, we are unable to cast these
traditions aside.''
   There also were hard feelings between the New Zealanders and
Conner during the early part of the series, when Conner charged
that the only reason anyone would build a 12-meter in fiberglass
was to cheat.
   New Zealand's three boats are the only fiberglass 12-meter
America's Cup yachts ever built.
   Fay said the Stars & Stripes syndicate considered New Zealand
was bound to a precedent established at Newport, R.I., that
challengers sometimes assisted one another.
   This was denied later by Burnham.
   Fay said new precedents had been established in Fremantle. He
said New Zealand was not bound by any agreement to support Stars &
Stripes, although Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, which organized the
challenge, wanted the challengers to remain united.
   He said he was unaware of any agreement between the challengers
that obliged them to suppor the winner of the challenger round
against Australia.
   Burnham said although neither he nor Fay were at the meeting, an
unanimous agreement was reached and that New Zealand's support for
Australia was unsporting and it would have been better if New
Zealand had remained neutral.
   Fay said New Zealand would not provide the Australians with any
technical help beyond providing a trial boat for Iain Murray's
Kookaburra III.
   Training against New Zealand would provide the Australians with
valuable data on the competitivness of its boat with Stars &
Stripes.
   ``I would like to think our record of sportsmanship at this
regatta is equal to anyone's,'' Fay said.
    

Conner has no one to blame but himself for New Zealand's decision to 
help Kookaburra III. I for one am hoping Conner loses again.

    Traditionally the challenge of the America's Cup regatta has been to
    wrest the Cup from the U.S.A. So it follows that the challengers would
    assist eachother.
    
    Who would want to help the U.S. get it back ?
    
    The S&S folk's hoopla about tradition is just sour grapes, when
    the Cup left the NYYC tradition came to an end.

    I'm sorry, I just don't buy the garbage about the USA being the
    tyrant.  Dennis Connor is not the NYYC, and (in my opinion) he
    trys to win by sailing, not in the protest room, despite the plastic
    boat crap.  Count the protest flags S&S flew, and count the ones
    KBIII and AIV flew.  
    
    And the tripe about the US throwing money away in an effort to get
    the cup; well just ask Kevin Parry and Alan Bond how much money
    they spent.  Well over the amount in Sail America spent.
    
    Traditionally, the Americas cup has been a game of "king
    of the hill", (like when we were kids) with everyone trying to 
    depose the current "king".  I'm frankly a little disappointed in
    the NZ move.   It now means that the richest camps can make deals
    behind the scenes and make things even more political.
    
    Rick
    
    * In agreeing about the NYYC, remember the old saying of 1898..
    
    	"Brittania rules the waves... but the New York Yacht Club waives
         the rules..."

    RE .52 
    
    I'm with you.  I'm also one who hope's Dennis DOES bring the Cup
    back, even if it is in San Diego.  I think the Kewi's are showing
    their sour grapes.
    
    Tom
    
    

    I'm with the Kiwi's.  They aren't stupid.  Why should they set
    themselves up for the expense of an overseas campaign.  Especially
    in places like San Diego or Newport where 15 knots is considered
    heavy air.  I'm never going to get any closer to a twelve meter
    than ESPN's camera and I'd much rather see the action taking place
    with some real wind and waves.  In fact, even if Conner wins I'd
    like to see Perth become a permanent venue.  They ought to have
    a minumun average wind velocity as one of the prereq's for sponsoring
    a challenge.

    While I understand the Kiwi's desire to reduce the cost of their
    next challenge to the Cup.....their recent action will leave them
    in such a postion that no one can _afford_ to trust them.
    
    
    			-Jeff

    RE .54:   While Newport is not Fremantle, 15 knots is *not* considered
    	      heavy air.  Maybe in the Chesapeke Bay, but not the Newport
    	      where I sail. You quite often get 18-20 knot days and an 
    	      often-enough-for-me bunch of 20-30 knot days.  I'm not
    	      saying its just as windy as Perth, but for the last 150
              years people seem to have been able to enjoy racing there.
    
              I happen to *love* what I've seen of Perth sailing, but that 
              doesn't mean that San Francisco (which I'd say was close to 
              Perth in conditions) wouldn't be just as good.
    
    	      I guess it's just not a good enough reason to lose.. :-)
    
    Rick

    Make no assumptions about San Diego or Newport as possible venues�.
    
    excerpted from .45
    
 >      It had been thought that the chances of the Cup races returning
 >to Newport were killed when New York Yacht Club's entry, America
 >II, was eliminated.
 >  But Sail America, the syndicate sponsoring Stars & Stripes, has
 >hinted in recent weeks that if Conner recaptures the Cup, the
 >defense might not be held in San Diego.
 >  Conner reportedly is concerned about light winds and thick
 >coastal kelp off San Diego.
 >  Charles Ward, marketing director for Sail America, has said the
 >city picked to host the races would have to demonstrate sufficient
 >shore services for up to 30 syndicates and pledge about $25 million
 >to help the Cup defense organization.
  
How about San Francisco? Or maybe Seattle? What's it like on Puget Sound,
    other than moldy? :-)
    

    	Today's paper had a picture of Stars and Stripes' new spinnaker
    - it had what looked like pockets sown on the outside about 3/4
    up.  They were filled with air and gave the outside of the sail
    an appearance somewhat like a hot air balloon.  Does anyone know
    the aero-dynamic theory behind this?  Wouldn't it disrupt the flow
    of air over the sail?

    In today's Boston Globe, there's a sidebar in front of the "Business
    Today" section (page 41) about MicroVAXen and the America's Cup...
    The last line reads
    
      "Whoever wins, we'll take the credit," says Kenneth Olsen, Digital
      President.
    
    I hope that quote is WAY out of context... obviously there's more
    to winning the Cup than having a DEC computer! (or am I wrong?)
    
    ...tek

    Concerning air flow -
    
    Downwind, a spinnaker is mostly stalled, and is generating virtuall
    all drag and no lift. Disturbed air flow doesn't mean much in this
    condition, and those pockedts won't hurt. I've heard pros and cons
    described as:
    
    Advantages:
    	1. Stiffens shoulders of sail and helps prevent collapsing.
    	2. Allows slightly larger shoulders (see above).
    	3. Creates more downwind turbulence, and thus dirtier air for
           the boat ahead (if there is one).
    
    Disadvantages:
    	1. Heavier sail may not fill as well in light air (probably
           not an issue in Perth).
    	2. May be harder to handle (heavier again).
    
    Note that spinnaker size is determined by hoist and pole length
    (which is set by the rules). These determine the maximum width and
    height of the sail. For downwind spinnakers, most effort is in
    achieving maximum sail area, which essentially means broadening
    the shoulders as much as possible.
    
    As for K.O.'s alleged quote -
    
    Digital would be crazy not to exploit the fact that both finalists
    use our stuff (even if one is much more technically imaginative).
    The perfect advertising opportunity - "Want to be competitive in
    high-tech America's cup racing?? Digital is a prerequisite...."
    
    Ross Faneuf
    

    Re: .59
    
    The quote has been reported in a few of the media so I'm sure Ken said
    it. It sure sounds like one of those things he says with that sly grin
    he wears while joking.
    
    I assume that you realize that Ken has a nice dry sense of humor.
    Or did I misread the fact that YOU also have one as well?
    
    I used to have the PDP-11 poster from 1977 which had a fantastic
    picture of the 12 meter of that year which had a PDP-11 on board.
    That was a heck of a poster.  I hope we make some out this year's
    race.
    
    Don

    re.59
    
    best picture i've seen is an advertisement for DEC in the Aussie
    paper showing the two kookaburra boats, one flying a digital 
    spinaker. One of the guys i work with got a copy while working in
    sydney. Real nice photo. Dec ought to get both stars and stripes
    and kookaburra flying dec spinakers. What a picture. Wonder if this
    pisses Big Blue off too?!
    
    john
    

Associated Press Fri 30-JAN-1987 04:52                Americas Cup-Bond-Japan

                                   By SID MOODY   
                            Associated Press Writer   
   FREMANTLE, Australia (AP) - The man who won the America's Cup
for Australia in 1983 said Friday he would give the Japanese about
$1.3 million to help them try to win the Cup in 1990.
   Alan Bond, the Perth millionaire who became a national hero for
bringing the Cup to Australia, said he was acting for sporting as
well as commercial reasons.
   ``It will encourage the sport of 12-meter racing to bring Japan
up to the status of a viable contender,'' Bond said, adding that
``we want to sell our beer there, so there is a commercial reason
as well.''
   Bond owns the Swan brewery in Perth.
   ``We're in Asia. I'm concerned Australia perhaps has not
encouraged a close understanding of our trading partners,'' he
added.
   Helping a Japanese America's Cup challenge ``would be a good way
to get our products known there.''
   Bond's disclosure of financial help came at the formal
announcement of a common rumor that he would sell his two high tech
12-meter cup racers, Australia III and IV, to the Japanese. The
buyer, for $7.5 million, is Masakazu Kobayashi, a wealthy Japanese
businessman and yachtsman.
   The sale also includes computer software about the yachts and
sailing manuals for them.
   Speaking through an interpreter, Kobayashi said he would use the
two yachts to prepare a Japanese challenge in 1990, when the Cup
will be open to challenge again. He will challenge from the Bengal
Bay Yacht Club on Ise Bay near Nagoya.
   Asked if this meant he would no longer be a Cup contestant,
Bond, who has raced for the trophy five times, said, ``Yes, in all
probability.''
   ``i believe that our involvement with the Japanese syndicate
will promote further goodwill between our largest trading partner
and ourselves. I also believe that our sponsorship of the syndicate
will greatly assist our brewing and other business aspirations in
Japan,'' Bond said in a statement.
   Bond noted that the deed of gift, registered with the Supreme
Court of New York by the New York Yacht Club, holder of the Cup for
132 years until Bond won it, declared the competition was intended
to promote ``international sportsmanship.''
   ``Sometimes we get off that track,'' he said.
    

    Does anyone know which of the three boats dennis conners had
    built for the cup retrieval campaigne is being used?

    I don't know the answer to that one.
    
    I have a piece of trivia for those watching on ESPN, however.  As
    you will notice there are several cruise ships just off the course.
    
    This morning I noticed one that looked quite familiar.  It has a
    blue hull and two stacks with a white star on both.  First time
    that this ship has been in the Indian Ocean, I believe.
    
    
    The ship is the Achille Lauro.
    
    It didn't appear that they were still flying the Digital banners.
    
    A trivial kind of guy,
    
    Don

    re .64
    
    Coners has used the '87 boat for the entire series. They have the
    '85 boat there in and are using it as a trial horse.
    
    Bleary-eyed Ed
    
    Any body heard about the results of the protest from race2?

    The sports report this afternoon didn't mention the protest at all and
    showed Stars and Stripes ahead 2-0.  They talked in some detail about
    the race but never mentioned the protest.  Of course, what the average
    sports reporter knows about sailing could fit on the tip of a pin. 

    I heard from a friend that the protest was dropped after the race.
    That seems quite reasonable.  It's a lot better to let the sailors
    decide the regatta.  It is clear that Connors is the best sailor
    in this regatta.
    
    Not easily impressed,
    
    Don

    Yes, the race #2 protest was dropped!  The K3 camp, "after careful
    review of the reply tapes," decided that there was no real infringement
    of the rules.
    
    Conner called a lay day for today with light winds forecasted. 
    He wants the big winds to leave K3 in the proverbial mist!
    
    					...Roger...
    (who's_using_his_VCR_to_watch_the_races_at_a_reasonable_hour)
    
    S&S.....3    K3.....ZIP !!!

    I just saw print ads "Digital has it now" featuring the two finalists
    using our computers.  In Sunday NY Times and Barrons.  
    
    Congratulations on a fast reaction from a traditionally sleepy corner
    of the company.  
    
    And the text said it right, at least in my reading: "lets the crews
    sharpen their own skills.  Test creative maneuvers.  And make better
    faster decisions."  
    
    The sailors get the credit, but we supplied them with an essential
    tool.  

Associated Press Mon  2-FEB-1987 04:47                     America's Cup-Bomb

      FREMANATLE, Australia (AP) - The Kookaburra III syndicate
received a phone call Monday during the America's Cup race that
there was a bomb aboard their 12-meter yacht, officials said.
   A chase boat was sent alongside to inform the Australian crew,
but after a search, no bomb was found.
   Early in the eighth and final leg of the race won by Stars &
Stripes, Kookaburra personnel in a rubber boat pulled alongside
their yellow-hulled boat and spoke to the crew about the threat.
   The victory gave the Americans a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven
series.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    This was reported on the radio this am this way..
    
    Chase boat comes up and tells Iain Murray that they've got bad news,
    "There's a bomb on board. " 
    
    Murray replies," OK, now what's the bad news?"
    
    If you've seen the race you can appreciate the humor. K3 was just
    stomped! 
    
    Conners and Whidden got the side they wanted at the start. Flagman
    Gilmour got foxed!!! K3 got a little windshift that put them in front.
    They tried to put a slam dunk on S&S but she proceeded to calmly blow
    them out from leeward. OK, so you say, "what 'll happen downwind?". She
    walks away from K3 on the second leg and you know, you just know that
    this boat is the one. She's beaten K3 in light, heavy amd moderate
    winds. She's beaten K3 to windward, off the wind and reaching. If
    they put an engine in her she'd probably handle better under power
    too. :-)
    
    You may not like Dennis' style, but you have to give credit to that
    whole organization. They've put together a marvelous product.