Soviets to Fight Decision : Sailing: ACOC recognizes Red Star ’92 as Soviet challenger, but Age of Russia syndicate, which has a boat on the way, vows a battle.

The Age of Russia syndicate--the one known to have a boat--is determined to sail, although the America’s Cup Organizing Committee has given its blessing to Red Star ‘92--the one whose boat is just a rumor.

“The boat will be shipped over here by (Thursday) Dec. 5,” Age of Russia representative Marina Kopel said Wednesday.

Kopel said Age of Russia will fight the ACOC’s declaration Monday that Red Star ’92 is the “valid challenger” from Russia, based on assurances from the Soviet government that the Ocean Racing Club of Leningrad still exists, coupled with assurances from Red Star ’92 leader Oleg Larionov that his syndicate--not Age of Russia--represents the club, now known as the Ocean Racing Club of St. Petersburg. Earlier, Kopel had written Tom Ehman, general manager of the ACOC: “If we are not given the due process we deserve, we will pursue all remedies at our disposal, including but not limited to legal action, PR campaign and Russian government intervention.”

“All I want is ACOC to be fair,” Kopel said. “We’ve got the boat ready to go.”

Kopel, based in Los Angeles, said she is with a marketing company representing the Age of Russia.

John Warren, the International Yacht Racing Union’s European measurer, has inspected the Age of Russia boat near Moscow and said it is finished and legal. Construction of the Red Star ’92 boat in the breakaway republic of Estonia has not been confirmed by outsiders.

“One has the (recognized) challenge, the other has the goods,” said Ernie Taylor, executive director of the Challenger of Record Committee.

Larionov left the original Red Star syndicate to form his own team in Estonia after the failed coup in August. Earlier, in April, he told Ehman that Sergei Shishkov, commodore of the Ocean Racing Club of Leningrad, had been dismissed “by the decision of the general meeting”--a claim denied by Shishkov in a letter to Ehman last week.

Shishkov also said he had withdrawn the club’s support from both syndicates until he sorts it out at home.

Ehman refused to wait and recognized Red Star ’92 this week--apparently taking Larionov at his word on all points, which concerned some Cup insiders.

“That worries me, too,” Taylor said.

“It looks like he’s jumped into bed with Larionov,” Kopel said.

There also is the matter of the $150,000 bond to be refunded when a team shows up with a boat. Ehman wrote all parties that the issue “is of no concern to ACOC.”

Documents seem to confirm that Red Star ’92 has no claim on those funds, and Kopel said, “They’re getting a free ride on Age of Russia’s money.”

Kopel also pointed out that the Deed of Gift requires a boat to be built in the country from which the challenge originates.

“Why are they building the boat in Estonia with Estonian workers and Estonian materials?” she asked. “That’s against all the rules.”

But Ehman said, “Persons who were nationals in the USSR when the ORCL challenge was filed, including nationals of now independent states, will remain eligible . . . “

Ehman had suggested a merger of the syndicates, which seemed logical to Taylor, as well.

But Kopel said, “I don’t think it’s (Ehman’s) position to suggest such things. This is not America.”

America’s Cup Notes

Syd Fischer hoped to sail Challenge Australia today for the first time since its arrival in San Diego. . . . The fifth Italian boat and the only Swedish boat are scheduled to arrive on the same Russian jumbo cargo plane Wednesday. New Zealand’s fourth boat is due to arrive by ship next Thursday. . . . Team Dennis Conner and America 3 have the week off for Thanksgiving.