Soviets to Enter 4 Yachts in 1991 America’s Cup
The Soviet Union will enter four yachts in the 1991 competition for the America’s Cup, the first attempt by the nation to claim the prize that historically has been contested by wealthy yachtsmen and their exclusive private clubs.
Timir Pinegin, the 1960 Olympic champion in the Star class yacht races at Rome and now general secretary of the Soviet Yacht Racing Federation, said his organization “has a big group of sponsors, both Soviet and Western ones,” although he refused to identify them.
Pinegin, apparently sensitive to potential criticism that the Soviet Union would spend millions to build a Cup contender when there are more pressing national problems, said no government funds would be spent on the project.
Pinegin said four merchant shipping firms will take part in the project. Two of the enterprises, Estonian of Tallinn and Baltic in Leningrad, are located on the Baltic Sea northwest of Moscow. Two others, Georgian in Poti and Black Sea in Odessa, are on the Black Sea.
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