USYRU Director Turns Down Constantine Request

The executive director of the United States Yacht Racing Union has rebuffed a request by would-be America’s Cup defender Al Constantine to intervene with the San Diego Yacht Club, the America’s Cup Organizing Committee and the New York State Supreme Court on his behalf.

John Bonds said, “It would take a huge change in policy for the union to interfere in a club activity. We don’t have anything to do with (the Cup) except they use our rules.”

However, Bonds said he had forwarded Constantine’s request--received by fax at the USYRU office in Newport, R.I. Tuesday--to president Bill Martin in Michigan.

Constantine, a Connecticut yacht broker, has repeatedly been turned away or ignored by the Cup’s Defense Committee, which considers his proposal inadequate. He has not started to build a boat, although trials are scheduled to start in 3 1/2 months.

The U.S. has only two defense syndicates--Team Dennis Conner and Bill Koch’s America-3. There are 10 challengers.