America’s Cup Notebook : Conner’s Trips Home Draw Some Criticism

Dennis Conner has returned to Fremantle, dogged by America’s Cup controversy halfway around the world and back.

Critics thought he was hurting the Sail America effort by going home to San Diego between rounds to check on his drapery business for the second time in a month.

But according to Sandy Purdon, the syndicate’s executive administrator, Conner was hardly missed. “It’s no big deal, flying home,” Purdon said from Fremantle. “We’ve got enough chiefs down here to sink a ship.”

Conner’s longtime tactician, Tom Whidden, has taken the crew sailing every day on Stars & Stripes ’85 while modifications were being made on Stars & Stripes ’87 to improve its performance in a wider range of conditions.

When Conner isn’t around, Purdon said: “Tom is in charge of the boat, and I take care of everything on shore. We’re not doing things that he needs to be involved in, plus we talk on the phone every day.”

Conner has a partner, Frank Trovato, in his drapery business but apparently feels his presence is required periodically.

Gary Jobson, a former America’s Cup tactician who has been following the trials as analyst for ESPN, sides with the sailors in Eagle’s divided camp.

“I think they’re sailing well,” Jobson said of the Newport Beach crew. “They’re getting everything there is out of that boat.”

Gerry Driscoll resigned as the syndicate’s director of operations during the second round when the board of directors refused to make crew changes--specifically, replace tactician Doug Rastello. Eagle designer Johan Valentijn agreed with Driscoll and went home to Newport, R.I., although he still works for the syndicate.

Jobson said: “Rastello is a great tactician.”

Fremantle is proving dangerous for America’s Cup sailors, especially on land.

A few days ago, skipper Buddy Melges of Heart of America needed three stitches in his elbow when he was knocked off his bicycle by an opening car door.

Monday night, Aldo Migliaccio, skipper of Italia, cracked seven ribs in a car accident that ended his bid. Tactician Stefano Roberti, 30, was named the new skipper.

Louis Rich, a grinder on Great Britain’s White Crusader, injured his leg Tuesday when his motorcycle and a car collided. Syndicate officials say it appears the 28-year-old Rich will miss the next round in the challenger series.

The New York Yacht Club’s America II syndicate, which has promised to bring the America’s Cup back to its longtime home in Newport, R.I., will ask Gov. Edward D. DiPrete of Rhode Island to help it raise $2 million to keep its Australia operation afloat.

“We have bills piling up that are coming due,” Tom Ehman, head of the syndicate’s U.S. operations, said. “We have an excellent shot at winning this thing and we can’t let a lack of money slow us down now.”

Ehman stressed that they are seeking DiPrete’s vocal support, not state funds. He said the syndicate has received lucrative offers to hold the races in other cities, including a $3-million offer from Harrah’s Casino to hold the races in Atlantic City.

Steve Rosenberg of Long Beach likes Chris Dickson’s chances to win it all.

The New Zealand skipper, only 25 and in his first cup campaign, leads the challenger trials with 22 wins and 1 loss after two rounds. Rosenberg filled in as the odd non-Kiwi crew member when Dickson tied for third in the Congressional Cup last March.

“I really think he’s gonna go all the way, unless he cracks,” Rosenberg said. “He’s got by far the best crew there, and he’s matured a lot in the past year. In the Congressional Cup, he gained a lot of experience and showed a lot of poise.”

Rosenberg, 23, is doing weekly America’s Cup analyses on radio station KLON-FM (88.0) each Thursday at 8:10 a.m. He’ll interview Dickson this week.

Several top America’s Cup skippers probably will be coming to Long Beach for the first World Match Racing Championship in August of 1988.

Representatives of five countries met in Long Beach last weekend to pursue plans for the event. The format calls for the automatic inclusion of the winners of the seven major match racing events around the world, plus invitations.

A major point of discussion was the International Yacht Racing Union’s recent scuttling of most restrictions on advertising and commercial sponsorships. In other words, boats could be racing with corporate logos on their spinnakers and the sponsor’s colors on their crew.

While rival skippers are using the racing break to fix their boats, USA’s Tom Blackaller got married. The 46-year-old San Francisco helmsman and 31-year-old Christine Gummersbach sneaked out of town to ensure privacy.

After a short honeymoon, the Blackallers returned to prepare for the third round of racing starting Tuesday.

USA is tied for fifth place despite being one of the bare bones efforts.

America’s Cup Notes The jury overseeing the defender trials is considering a request from the Kookaburra syndicate to reopen a protest hearing that disqualified Kookaburra II in its victory over Australia IV last week. Kookaburra II (13-7) is third after two rounds with 19 points but would overtake Australia IV (14-6) with 20 points, if the jurors reversed their decision. Kookaburra III (19-1) leads the trials with 29 points. . . . Australia IV has added a rudder forward of its keel to enhance its handling in light wind. It’s less conspicuous than that on USA and apparently not working too well, either. . . . USA has widened its front rudder for better handling in heavy seas.