AMERICA’S CUP : Conner Looks for Support Against New Zealand Boat

Dennis Conner is looking for support from other syndicates in his campaign to inspect New Zealand’s unique--and unbeaten--fiberglass boat.

Conner’s Sail America syndicate Tuesday called for a meeting of the 13 challengers from six countries to push organizers to take core samples of the 12-meter boat designated KZ7.

The issue is being compared to the New York Yacht Club’s 1983 attempt to have Australia II’s winged keel ruled illegal. The NYYC spent six weeks unsuccessfully trying to expel Australia II, the boat that defeated Conner’s Liberty to snap the 132-year U.S. winning streak.

This time NYYC’s America II syndicate officials do not want to get involved.

“We’re not involved with the fiberglass controversy,” said Chairman Richard M. Devos. “We’re not the judge nor the jury. It’s not up to us to stir it up. Conner has chosen to. I guess we will let him carry that ball.”

However, Conner apparently has the support of the British and San Francisco syndicates.

Meanwhile, Chris Dickson, 24, lost a crewman overboard Tuesday, then retrieved him before the start and sailed KZ7 to its eighth straight victory by a lopsided four minutes over Britain’s White Crusader (6-3), which was expected to give a better battle. British skipper Harold Cudmore made no excuses.

“Our speedos (instruments) went out on the first beat, and it hurt, but it was obvious Chris was faster upwind than we were,” he said.

Conner’s syndicate fears the development of fiberglass boats could render conventional aluminium construction obsolete. Dickson has suggested that fiberglass 12-meters will outnumber aluminum at the next America’s Cup in 1990.

In a letter sent to the teams vying for the challenger’s berth, Sail America officials representing the San Diego Yacht Club said, “Not checking KZ7 very carefully for this series may well send a signal to future builders of glass Twelves that if they can slip something past Lloyd’s (surveyors) they are home free with no danger of ever getting caught.

“As time goes by it becomes increasingly unfair to both the New Zealanders and the other challengers if our request remains open and KZ7 subject to future protest.”

Conner has indicated he will protest New Zealand when they meet Thursday.

Dickson said his crew’s morale was unaffected by the battle raging around them.

“They are a pretty jovial crew and they don’t seem to have any problems whatsoever,” Dickson said.

America’s Cup Notes Newport Beach’s Eagle (4-4), again sailing in lighter wind than it prefers of 12 to 16 knots, lost by a convincing 1:34 to Italia (5-3) Tuesday. Afterward, skipper Rod Davis said his syndicate planned several changes to both the boat and its sail inventory before the second round. Eagle was scheduled to race New Zealand (8-0) today. . . . Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes picked up an easy victory when Courageous IV withdrew with a broken boom, thereby remaining in a second-place tie at 7-1 with America II, which beat Chicago’s Heart of America (2-7) by 4:06. . . . Marc Pajot’s French Kiss (4-4) defeated brother Yves’ Challenge France by 17:40, but the brothers filed protests against each other and the international jury awarded the victory to Challenge France, finding French Kiss violated a right-of-way rule one minute before the start. Challenge France had lost its previous seven races. . . . Canada II (5-4) sailed alone after Italy’s Azzurra (1-8) withdrew with steering problems. . . . Great American Bank will host a public reception for Eagle from 5:30 to 7:30 tonight at 5 at the Corporate Plaza in Newport Beach. Eagle Chief Adviser Bill Ficker, who defended the cup with Intrepid in 1970, and Bill Crispin, an Eagle official, will speak, show slides and give an update. . . . ESPN will review challenger trials action in a half-hour show at 8 tonight.