Dennis Conner Loses to Blackaller, Argues Legality of KZ7 Boat

Dennis Conner lost to arch-rival Tom Blackaller in the America’s Cup challenger trials Monday, but the two remain allies in their suspicion that New Zealand’s fiberglass KZ7 boat is illegal.

Conner got into a heated exchange with a New Zealand reporter over the issue at the post-race press conference.

First Blackaller said: “I think the Lloyd’s scantling requirements for fiberglass are probably flawed. My engineers have told me consistently since I’ve been in this game since 1980 that you can’t build a boat in fiberglass that’s light enough and strong enough to compete because Lloyd’s scantlings prohibit making the boat light enough and strong enough. I’m sure Dennis’ engineers are telling him the same damn thing.”

When the question went to Conner he at first said, joking: “I have a fiberglass muzzle on. I can’t comment.”

As Blackaller started to respond, from the other end of the dais, Conner added: “Since ‘78, 12-meters have been built all in aluminum, so if you want to build a glass boat, why would you do it, unless you wanted to cheat?”

After Blackaller commented that “something is out of whack,” New Zealand reporter Michael Coupe addressed Conner from the floor.

“Your comment was a straightforward statement that you believe the New Zealand boat is cheating . . . “ Coupe began.

“No, I didn’t say that,” Conner said.

“You did.”

“No.”

“Yes, you did.”

“Well, you said it. I didn’t say that, and if you’d like to bet a dollar, I’d be happy to take your money. You’re taking what I said out of context. I didn’t even mention New Zealand, sir. “

“There’s only one fiberglass boat here.”

“If you’re such an expert on this, why are you sitting out in the audience instead of up here sailing the boats?”

“You asked me that the last time.”

“I don’t choose to answer any more of your questions.”

Later, an Australian reporter asked Conner and Blackaller about their sometimes stormy rivalry. Conner deferred to his tactician, Tom Whidden.

“Tom watches the other boats a lot, so I’ll let him answer,” Conner said.

After Whidden had offered an inoffensive response, Blackaller came on strong.

“I have tremendous respect for Dennis Conner’s ability as a sailor,” the San Francisco skipper said. “I have been at odds with him for some time about the bludgeon tactics that he uses to try to win races . . . $15-million programs and three-year programs. I don’t think that’s good for the sport. If you just go out and get more money and spend more time, it becomes less a sport and more like a business.

“Personally, Dennis has always been one of the few people that I respect greatly as a sailor. I just wish he hadn’t turned the sport into something where it costs you $20 million to compete.

“We had to take a hard stab with this revolutionary boat because that’s the only way to compete against $20-million programs. We’ve only spent about $5 million so far, and it looks like we’re competitive, so we were able to pull it off. We’re just lucky there are a million ideas around about boats . . . “

Blackaller broke off as Conner, in a mock expression of sympathy, passed an Australian $2 bill down the table for him.

“It’s kind of fun to compete against these guys on this basis . . . “ Blackaller continued.

Then Conner passed another $2 bill and asked: “Can I get a receipt for that? It’s tax deductible.”

Earlier, out on the race course, Conner got the 15 to 24 knots of wind his boat likes but Blackaller, sailing his twin-ruddered USA faster than ever, was on the right side of the course to benefit from 20-degree wind shifts on the first and third windward legs.

He picked up 19 and then 41 seconds on those legs, which more than made the difference in his 42-second victory that dropped Conner to third place and boosted USA into a tie for fifth, one point out of the critical fourth spot.

America’s Cup Notes USA skipper Tom Blackaller won another one even as Monday’s races started. The race jury upheld White Crusader skipper Harold Cudmore’s protest that USA’s inflatable chase boat closed to less than the 200-yard minimum from the 12-meter during Monday’s race but said: “The protest was upheld and the infringing yacht (USA) will be reprimanded and receive a warning.” Blackaller kept the 12 points. . . . The night before the jury had disallowed Cudmore’s other protest over a luffing incident. . . . There were no other surprises Monday. First-place New Zealand cruised to its 18th straight win by 3:30 over Italia. The mast on last-place Challenge France (2-27) folded double from the middle in its race against French Kiss and is expected to drop out of the trials with five races remaining. . . . The defenders had a day off.