Rough Tactics Used on Unwanted Guest
Given a tactical situation, Tom Whidden reacted.
When the Stars & Stripes tactician saw a stranger inspecting the bottom of the 12-meter after Saturday’s race, he grabbed him by the collar and seat of the pants and ran him out of the compound.
The boat, its keel shrouded, had been hoisted out of the water and onto the dock after its lopsided third victory over New Zealand’s KZ7. Media and syndicate personnel had been permitted into the compound but not near the boat. Whidden was talking to a reporter when he saw the man, who was bearded, wearing an Australian bush hat, vest and shorts, and carrying a camera.
“He ran through and started feeling the bottom, and he was headed right for the keel,” Whidden said. “I saw one of our young guys having trouble with him. He said he was an American, but no way. He sounded Australian.”
Stars & Stripes’ bottom was recently laminated with sheets of plastic “riblets,” hoping to increase the boat’s speed.
The unidentified intruder was not arrested.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
