Spanish Syndicate Decides to Skip a Regatta with Conner

Spain’s America’s Cup syndicate, under pressure from the challengers, decided Friday to withdraw from a International America’s Cup Class regatta with Team Dennis Conner.

Next Thursday’s Cadillac Cup was to feature Espana ’92 and Conner’s Stars & Stripes on San Diego Bay. Instead, Stars & Stripes will sail against two 12-meter boats in an exhibition. The 1992 America’s Cup will be the first sailed in IACC yachts. The 12-meters were used from 1958 to 1987.

Spain was to use the regatta for some informal competition and publicity. But the majority of challengers didn’t want to give any more of an advantage to Conner, the defending Cup skipper, and Bill Koch of America-3. The Spanish saw how united several challengers were on the issue at a meeting Friday, and withdrew before the group was to vote.

“They were all arguing their points, and it was obvious they were all against it,” said Marisa Vallbona-Rayner, spokeswoman for the Spanish challenge. “The way we look at it, yeah, it might have helped Dennis, but it really would have helped us a lot,” she said.