America’s Cup Runneth Over With Controversy
Michael Fay, head of New Zealand’s challenge for the America’s Cup, said Sunday at a news conference at Auckland, New Zealand, that his syndicate will refuse to race a multihull defender unless ordered to do so by the courts and that even in the event of that “worst-case scenario,” he might refuse to sail.
Sail America and the San Diego Yacht Club, coordinating the defense scheduled for September in San Diego, are building a multihull catamaran and have said they will use it in the races.
Fay said he will not agree to talk about dates and the race course until the “basic issue” of monohull vs. multihull is resolved.
Fay made his comments at a launching ceremony for the new 90-foot monohull New Zealand.
An orchestra played, sky-divers descended and Maori tribesmen danced to celebrate the launch of the winged-hull yacht, which is the biggest America’s Cup yacht in 50 years.
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