Australian Interests Are Squabbling About Method of Choosing Defender

It was only a matter of time until the guys who captured the America’s Cup would be fighting over it themselves.

Personal greed seems to have a leg up on patriotism in the defenders’ trials, a civil war of sailing in which the two Kookaburras are openly ganging up on Alan Bond’s Australia IV and are determined to squash another emerging threat, Steak’n Kidney.

With shifty winds from 24 knots dying to 4 at the finish, the Kookaburras came back from Saturday’s narrow losses to post two wins on the last day of Series C. Kookaburra II trounced Australia IV by 5:10 and Kookaburra III drubbed Steak’n Kidney by 2:54.

There is some sentiment for altering the original trials format, in which the top four boats carry their points from the first three rounds into the Series D semifinals starting Dec. 27.

Otherwise, latecomer Steak’n Kidney, with only 12 points to Kookaburra III’s 53, Australia IV’s 44 and Kookaburra II’s 37, hardly has a chance with wins in Series D worth only six points each.

Kookaburra is dead set against it.

Ken Court, deputy chairman of Kookaburra, said: “Our program’s been geared toward that point-score system and, as far as we’re concerned, the rules under which we started are the rules under which we should finish. I see no reason for changing that.”

Asked if that attitude was in the best interest of the Australian defense, Court responded: “We’ve had a two-boat development program right through, and we’re confident that that’s gonna come up with the best result. We’re confident the best boat will get up.”