AMERICA’S CUP ’92 : Italians and Kiwis Strong in Openers
A red boat has never won the America’s Cup, but there never have been red ones like Il Moro di Venezia and New Zealand.
The two strongest challengers will meet for the first time today on sailing’s own Super Sunday, after impressive tuneup victories when the Louis Vuitton Cup trials started Saturday.
The start was delayed 50 minutes until the spectator fleet--estimated at 100 boats--could be cleared from the starting area.
Il Moro and New Zealand both started poorly in their separate races by going right when more favorable wind was to the left, but they came from behind to win--skipper Paul Cayard’s big, red Il Moro di Venezia boat by 2 minutes 23 seconds over outclassed Spirit of Australia, and Rod Davis’ little red New Zealand by 56 seconds over a stronger rival, Ville de Paris.
The other first-day winners were first-time Cup competitors: Chris Dickson’s Nippon by 3:30 over Sweden’s untested Tre Kronor and Pedro Campos’ Espana ’92 by 2:15 over Challenge Australia.
Tre Kronor’s late-arriving crew had sailed the boat only four days.
Hanging over the first Italian-New Zealand showdown was the case against the Kiwis’ bowsprit, which was resolved in New Zealand’s favor by the international jury late Saturday night.
Ville de Paris skipper Marc Pajot protested New Zealand the first time the Kiwis jibed--that is, changed the large headsail from one side to the other while turning the boat downwind.
The point of contention is that instead of leaving the sail attached to the unstable spinnaker pole while jibing, New Zealand attaches it to the end of the bowsprit, which projects one meter beyond the hull of the boat.
“The way they jibed seemed to us not really clear with the (International America’s Cup Class) rule,” Pajot said. “So we put the protest flag up at that moment.
“Our intention is to clarify the intention of the rule. When you are maneuvering, the rule says you aren’t supposed to use this bowsprit. It is an advantage, so if it is permitted we will have one on Ville de Paris.”
The 1983 Cup had “keelgate” over the Australian winged keel; the ‘86-87 Cup had “glassgate” over New Zealand’s fiberglass boat, and ’88 had “catgate,” over Dennis Conner’s catamaran.
Now there is “spritgate.”
New Zealand syndicate general manager Peter Blake said, “What people must remember is that bowsprit is allowed by the class rule. The (issue) is how you use that bowsprit.”
The racing in winds building from 4 to 10 knots was otherwise uneventful.
Campos forced Challenge Australia, skippered by Phil Thompson, over the line early, and Thompson was sailing back toward the line when the gun went off. Thompson finally started 52 seconds late and never recovered.
Spirit of Australia had a yellow spinnaker tear in two, but Il Moro already had taken charge of that race.
Spirit skipper Peter Gilmour said later that the boat probably won’t sail the last couple of races in the first round while starting extensive modifications.
“We’re talking major keel surgery,” Gilmour said. “We aren’t happy with the way the boat is going . . . not what we expected to see.”
Today’s matches, in order, are Spain vs. Sweden, Challenge Australia vs. Nippon, Il Moro vs. New Zealand and Ville de Paris vs. Spirit of Australia.
At the start of Saturday’s race, Il Moro went right by choice because, tactician Tommaso Chieffi said, “We thought there was more pressure (stronger wind) on the right. That was probably true, but it shifted left”--by 35 degrees.
New Zealand was forced right by Pajot, but tacked left about three minutes after the start and, like Il Moro, used superior boat speed to take the leads on the second windward leg.
The only incident was when TV pictures from a helicopter showed a migrating California gray whale swimming directly under both boats.
“I don’t think the crews on either boat knew it was there,” Blake said.
When Il Moro was able to get past Spirit upwind, Gilmour and syndicate head/tactician Iain Murray decided they had a problem.
“Those that have been here a year (testing) were the winners today,” Gilmour said.
There was irony for the Australians. Saturday not only was Gilmour’s birthday but “Australia Day” Down Under, when Murray was awarded the Australia Medal in absentia for services to yacht design and his country.
Nippon’s match with Sweden started last and benefited from the building winds to navigate the three-lap, 20-mile course faster than anyone on the day: 2:40:26.
* DEFIANT LEADS DEFENDERS
Defiant ended the first round of the Defender Selection Series perfect in six races on the day America 3’s third boat arrived in San Diego. C17A