AMERICA’S CUP : No Mistakes, So Conner Falls Behind, 4-1

Dennis Conner looked around on the dais at the America’s Cup defenders’ post-race news conference Friday and noted: “It’s getting a little lonely up here.”

The America 3 representative had not yet arrived, and Stars & Stripes tactician Tom Whidden, who usually sits alongside his skipper, was in the audience.

“Even Curly has abandoned me,” Conner said.

What else could Conner do but joke? He had just gone behind, 4-1, in the best-of-13 series, losing to America 3 by 3 minutes 31 seconds--a margin exaggerated by the dying wind near the end but a loss nevertheless.

Stars & Stripes had its moments Thursday, leading for a while on the first leg and regaining the lead on the next, downwind leg. But unlike Wednesday’s race when the America 3crew seemed ready for a sailing lesson, Bill Koch’s group was solid.

Stars & Stripes’ big moment came about one minute before the first windward mark when, trailing America 3 by two lengths, Whidden suggested using a spinnaker instead of the smaller reaching gennaker headsail they had ready for the downwind leg.

It takes more wind to make the big, billowing spinnaker work, and Whidden thought there was just enough.

After a series of jibes halfway down the leg, Stars & Stripes crossed in front of America 3for the lead, which it extended to 16 seconds at the mark.

America 3 tactician Dave Dellenbaugh said: “When the wind came up from maybe 9 to 10 knots in the last minute or two to the mark, we had (already) made the call to go to the (gennaker). The option is to change on the run, but when you’re that close, a change is gonna cost you more than it’s worth.”

But the lesson was that it didn’t really matter how many things Stars & Stripes did right, because if America 3 doesn’t do enough things wrong, Stars & Stripes has trouble winning.

It wasn’t long before America 3 helmsman Buddy Melges was coming at Stars & Stripes like an 18-wheeler in the fast lane. On only the second try he crossed Stars & Stripes on port tack, ignoring Conner’s starboard right of way. Conner fought back through 15 tacks but couldn’t get back into the race.

Dellenbaugh, arriving late to sit alongside Conner, was as diplomatic as he could have been.

“When we get over nine knots of wind or so, um, we have a little bit of speed advantage . . . it seems,” he said. “And, uh, if we’re close behind, there’s a good chance we’re gonna be in a position where we can put that to work, and we were able to do that.”

Dellenbaugh almost seemed apologetic.

“It’s always a little bit difficult coming from behind, because the boat that’s ahead, if they play the wind shifts correctly, has an advantage. . . . And these guys have done a nice job and made it hard to get by,” Dellenbaugh said. “Our plan was to stay close and use our speed up the second beat.”

Conner said: “We tried (sailing) a little low (for speed), and then tried a little high (for a better angle). It didn’t make any difference. They were just going very well.”

That’s when it gets lonely in the boat that’s behind.