AMERICA’S CUP : Koch Makes a Change for the Better

Back in the second round of the America’s Cup defender trials two months ago, America 3’s Bill Koch suggested that Dennis Conner change his inefficient “goal post” keel in mid-round, when changes are normally disallowed, in order to become more competitive.

The string attached was that Koch would be allowed to do the same thing later--a deal, some said, that Conner might live to regret. It could help Koch get two boats into the defender finals, shutting Conner out.

Koch cashed the IOU this week when he looked at the weather forecasts and switched keels and ballast on America 3, his third boat, to sail better in light winds. The wind was so light Wednesday that the start was delayed about 2 1/2 hours, then America 3--without Koch--went out and beat Stars & Stripes by 2 minutes 8 seconds after a tight race.

So Stars & Stripes’ magic number remains stuck on two--any combination of Stars & Stripes victories or America 3 losses. They will race once more on Saturday, unless Kanza, Koch’s other boat, beats America 3today--nobody is betting on that-- and Stars & Stripes beats Kanza on Friday.

In the challengers’ races, New Zealand (6-2) clinched the second berth in the finals starting April 19, easily beating Ville de Paris (3-5) by 3:30, and Nippon (2-6) upset Il Moro di Venezia (5-3), which had already won a spot, by 1:53.

New Zealand and Il Moro will meet in a meaningless preview of the finals today; Nippon will take on Ville de Paris in what amounts to a consolation race for third place.

Koch’s credibility will be checked closely today. He has denied from the outset of the trials in January that he would try to manipulate the scoring. But if he loses sailing Kanza today, and it appears that the loss might have been intentional, there might be some doubt.

If Koch plays it straight and Kanza beats America 3today, Stars & Stripes could clinch a spot by beating Kanza Friday. Otherwise, there will be a showdown Saturday.

Koch chose to bench himself Wednesday for the first time since the first round when he sailed on Jayhawk but never Defiant, his discarded boats. Part of his light-air mode is to replace himself with Kimo Worthington to help helmsman Buddy Melges look for wind shifts.

With Conner applying heavy pressure most of the way, America 3sailed a flawless race, picking every subtle shift in the 7-to-10-knot westerly wind and covering Stars & Stripes relentlessly.

What difference the boat changes made was uncertain.

“If anything, we felt they were a little slower today,” Stars & Stripes’ John Bertrand said. “We felt really comfortable with them downwind, and we never had that situation before.”

But was Bertrand playing mind games?

John Marshall, Conner’s former design coordinator, said earlier in the day: “They had a chance to modify the boat on a one-day weather forecast. That’s really an advantage.”

The attitude seemed loose aboard America 3before the race, but navigator Bill Campbell said: “I don’t think the mood is any different with Bill (Koch) on or off the boat.”

Today’s attitude is another question.

Bertrand said, “We’re assuming America 3will win.”