Smoke Signals Crossed, but Benefit Wins Out

The American Cancer Society, embarrassed that New Zealand’s America’s Cup challenger was ousted from a benefit regatta for flying an anti-smoking message, overruled the event chairman Thursday and invited the Kiwis to participate.

“We are opening that back up and inviting them back in,” said Cindy Ribant, associate executive director of the American Cancer Society’s San Diego chapter.

The charity event ended up at the center of another conflict between New Zealand and Sail America, defense manager of the America’s Cup for the San Diego Yacht Club.

John Burnham, chairman of the charity event and son of a Sail America official, withdrew the invitation after New Zealand’s sloop sailed around San Diego with a huge sail bearing the message: “Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health.”

The message was perceived as a dig at Dennis Conner and the defending Stars & Stripes catamaran, whose major sponsors include Philip Morris Inc., whose products include Marlboro cigarettes.

“We want to take this away from Sail America and put it back where it belongs,” Ribant said of Sunday’s American Cancer Society Cup race on San Diego Bay. “This is an American Cancer Society event for a good cause . . . to raise money for cancer research. It’s not an America’s Cup event.”