Southland Sailing : N.Y. Club Receives Nationwide Support in America’s Cup Bid
If support from other yacht clubs means anything, New York Yacht Club’s America II syndicate appears to have a decided edge in the United States’ bid to regain the America’s Cup in 1987.
For the first time in the history of American yacht racing, 33 major U.S. clubs--one from the West Coast--have affiliated with the New York club in a nationwide effort to regain the auld mug from the Aussies. Australia, in 1983, became the only country other than the United States, which held it for 132 years, to win yachting’s greatest prize. The cup was on display at the New York Yacht Club until then.
Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club in Monterey, is the only West Coast Club that has joined the America II challenge. The others are prominent East Cast and Gulf Coast yachting organizations.
“The support of these yachting organizations reflects a gratifying national commitment toward reclaiming the Cup in 1987,” said Chuck Kirsch, chairman of the America II challenge.
“Despite the success of America II’s early sea trials in Australia, we recognize that reclaiming the Cup will require an extraordinary commitment of resources--the kind of commitment these affiliates are able to provide.”
Meanwhile, the two leading West Coast syndicates preparing to challenge the Aussies in 1987 are still working with unsuccessful 1983 12-meters yachts, using them as laboratory boats in hopes of coming up with a break-through in 12-meter design.
San Diego Yacht Club’s Sail America Foundation has announced an agreement to purchase the 12-meter yachts, Liberty and Spirit of America, from the Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, N.Y., to use for experimentation and crew training.
Liberty is the yacht Dennis Conner sailed when he was defeated by Australia II in 1983. Spirit of America was Liberty’s trial horse.
The Fort Schuyler Foundation has withdrawn its support of Conner and is now working with the New York YC syndicate.
“Liberty is valuable to us because it is a known quantity, and being able to use it as a test platform and for crew training will add depth and flexibility to our program,” said Malin Burnham, president of the Sail America Foundation. “Spirit is another key asset.”
Burnham said the agreement also included the purchase of the Maritime College Foundation’s 12-meter equipment and sail inventory. The San Diego group is designing a new 12-meter. The new boat is expected to be launched in August.
Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s Eagle Syndicate is currently working with Magic, the 12-meter that was discarded by Conner in 1983. They are using it both as a laboratory for a new design and as a crew trainer in brushes with the Italian 12-meter, Victory, off the Southland coast this spring.
The Eagle Syndicate also plans to have a new 12-meter in the water late this summer. It is being designed by Johan Valentijn, who also designed Magic, Liberty and Spirit of America.