America’s Cup Trials : Conner-New Zealand Showdown Put Off

The showdown between Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes and New Zealand’s fiberglass 12-meter was postponed because of foul weather Thursday. It was raining, with winds of 30 knots and gusts up to 40 churning up the Indian Ocean course.

Ten minutes before the scheduled clash between Conner’s blue boat and the controversial, undefeated KZ7, the race committee called off the day’s America’s Cup trials.

The crew of Eagle, of Newport Beach, was particularly disappointed that its race against Britain’s White Crusader was postponed. Syndicate officials say the boat was built for anticipated heavy winds, but light winds have prevailed in the first round of challenger trials, leaving Eagle with a 4-5 record.

“We’re looking for a nice 16- to 22(-knot breeze), and we’d have a shot at it,” project specialist Bill Crispin said in Newport Beach.

They planned to try again today. The forecast was for winds of 13 to 18 knots, with showers.

Conner (8-1) has to win his contest with New Zealand to have any chance of heading off the Kiwis (9-0) in the first round. Only two other races remain.

In his bid to have KZ7 rechecked for possible illegal weight distribution, Conner has been supported by San Francisco skipper Tom Blackaller, Britain’s Harold Cudmore and French Kiss helmsman Marc Pajot.

But Ben Lexcen, the developer of the winged keel that gave Australia II the winning edge in the 1983 America’s Cup, said KZ7 is not as fast as the aluminum boats and is only unbeaten because of its talented crew.

“There is no way that aluminum won’t prove to be a better material for 12-meter yachts than fiberglass,” Lexcen said.

Lexcen said that fiberglass flexes more than aluminum, losing power as it punches through waves.

“If there has been any weight saved in the New Zealand boat, Conner can rest assured that the advantage would be more than offset by the poor properties of fiberglass compared to aluminum,” Lexcen said.

New Zealand skipper Chris Dickson said after last February’s blustery 12-meter world competition, in which he placed second to Australia III in one of his two original fiberglass boats, that fiberglass would prove to be “stiffer, stronger and lighter” than aluminum, giving him a significant advantage.