America’s Cup : Conner Says He’ll Use Hard-Rigged Catamaran

Dennis Conner, appearing at his first news conference in weeks, said Monday that he will defend the America’s Cup in a hard-rigged catamaran instead of one with a soft sail.

Conner also lashed out at Michael Fay, chairman of the New Zealand Challenge.

Fay has said that the Americans’ response to his monohull challenge--two catamarans--is unfair and creates a mismatch. Although catamarans do not violate the Cup’s constitution, per se, Fay has said they violate the spirit of the Cup.

Conner said: “I’ve always thought that whatever is in the rules is fair. . . . If Fay made a mistake and his plan wasn’t good enough, then he should go back to the drawing board, like I did in 1983, when my boat was slow.

“Michael Fay has not earned the right to sail for the America’s Cup, because he has refused to face open competition--in 12-meters or in open design. If he’s slow, it may be because he really isn’t even the best challenger for the Cup.”

Conner compared his crew’s position to that of the Washington Redskins in the 1988 Super Bowl and that of Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series.

“Nobody felt that when Don Larsen pitched his perfect game that it was unfair because the other team didn’t get a hit,” he said.

“I’m fed up with defending myself and the Stars & Stripes team for having a fast boat. . . . I spent my whole sailing career trying to come up with fast boats. I thought that was the whole idea in sailboat racing.”

Fay, responding to Conner’s comments Monday, reiterated his stance that unless the boats are of similar design, the race is unfair.

Conner said that both catamarans will show up at the starting line for the first race, scheduled for Sept. 7, but that the soft-sail one will be there only as a backup.

The hard-rigged Stars & Stripes has two hard-wing or airfoil sails. The bigger one, attached two weeks ago, went 9-0 against its soft-sail counterpart in races off Point Loma this month.

As to which hard-wing sail he will select, Conner said he will decide that before 9 a.m. on race day, after he receives a weather report. The larger airfoil has proved more effective in lighter winds and smoother water.

The decision to go with the hard rig represents a reversal for Conner. It was originally thought that it would be more fragile than the soft one, but that has not been the case in testing, Conner said.

Tactician Tom Whidden, navigator Bob Isler and head sail trimmer Bill Trenkle, who were all on the 12-meter Stars & Stripes in the Cup regatta last year, return as members of the nine-man racing crew.

Carl Buchan and catamaran expert Cam Lewis will be the mainsail traveler operator and mainsail grinder for the first two races.

For the first race--which is to consist of two 20-mile legs--Duncan MacLane, co-designer of the hard-wing, will be the mainsail fullness controller, John Barnitt the jib grinder and John Wake the main twist controller.

For the second race--scheduled for a 39-mile triangular course Sept. 9--Louis Banks will be the mainsail fullness controller, John Grant the jib grinder and Randy Smyth the main twist controller.

Conner also addressed Fay’s contention that the Americans will make the race look close. This time, Conner made an analogy to the Indianapolis 500.

“Say Danny Sullivan wins the pole position with a qualifying speed of 220 m.p.h. If he’s got a comfortable lead after the first 100 miles, do you think he’s going to run at 220 m.p.h. for the rest of the way and risk blowing up his engine, or getting involved in an accident?

“I know I’d never do such a stupid thing. . . . If we’re lucky enough to be ahead, we’re going to sail smart and conservatively and not break down. If we’re behind, he will see us sail with the afterburners on.”