New Zealand Stands Firm Against San Diego Club
New Zealand syndicate head Michael Fay criticized the San Diego Yacht Club’s refusal to stage a multi-national America’s Cup challenge.
And he warned that 90-foot Kiwi waterline contender would only race a similar monohulled yacht when the two-nation sailing contest starts off San Diego in six months.
The comment from Fay, chairman of the Mercury Bay Boating Club, came Sunday after the Americans announced they were not prepared to continue negotiations for a multi-national regatta in 1989.
Fay said the American club’s latest decision had left the Kiwi challengers confused.
“But in September of this year at San Diego we will sail against a like and similar boat,” he said.
“If San Diego Yacht Club does not bring that boat to the start line, it forfeits the Cup. We will not race against anything else.”
The American club intends to race with a catamaran.
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