America’s Cup race very close

Press, 15 September 1977, Page 28

America’s Cup race very close

By

MICHAEL GALE,

NZPA correspondent

Newport, Rhode Island

The United States i defender, Courageous, over-; came a slight advantage to Australia at the start and ) sailed a tactically flawless j [race to win the first round! [of the America’s Cup chal-j [lenge series. i The margin was Imin 48s[ [but Australia showed that [ she will be a formidable .contender. [ The gap between the; yachts varied by only a mat-’ ter of seconds as they) .duelled their way around the! 24.5 nautical-mile course in )a south-west breeze of about 110 knots. . Australia led at the start-1 ing gun bv 12sec. but there-[ I after it was al) Courageous.!

The defender, sailed by ; I Ted Turner, led by Imin 8s < l'at the first mark, Imin 16s i | at the second, Imin 23s at : si the third, Imin 12s at the < ■ ’fourth, and Imin 18s at the •'fifth. I A slightly better choice of i) headsails on the first beat to li windward appeared to (enable Courageous to close : [slowly on Australia and i s I overcome the challenger’s ] t early advantage. ; Halfway up the first leg, : Australia, on port tack, had : >jto dip slightly behind the ' ■ defender’s stern. ) * j\ Then Courageous was able »lto work into a position; i) where she could interfere[ [with Australia’s breeze and*: * she pulled ahead to be just; .(over a minute clear at the ■ buoy. . I From that rounding, thel

yachts stayed a remarkably constant distance apart, the margin varying between 6s and 15s for the first five legs of the course. On the fourth leg, into the wind, the challenger rallied to shave Ils off Courageous' lead. But thoughts of Australia's closing up on the final two legs were dismissed when Courageous pulled another 6s clear on; the square run. When she) rounded the fifth mark with) a Imin 18s lead, the race) was as good as over, barring an exceptional turnaround. : As Courageous crossed the [line to a chorus of horns [and sirens from the I spectator fleet, she hoisted [the specified flag to indicate [ that she was prepared to race again today. I But Australia later called

for a lay-day today, delaying; the start of the second race) in the best-of-seven series to 4 a.m. tomorrow, New Zea-1 land time. Australia’s skipper, Noel Robins said that an error in headsail selection on the first beat had been the decisive factor. "We had the right sails out there but they were in [the boxes,” he said. “I think [we were using headsails for (choppier water than we actually struck. “We were better set up ! the second time to windward. The sails were more [suitably trimmed and we [phased better.” ; The Australia syndicate head, West Australian property developer Alan Bond, i said" that the crew would

•(spend the lay-day reviewing ijsail choices. > “We have reached the •! stage where we know we have a competitive boat [ Apart from the first leg, ! there was very little , difference between the 1 speeds of the two yachts. “Courageous is the tough- , est competitor we have I;struck in the challenge and ’ elimination series. “Ted made no mistakes so there ' were no opportunities.” The United States could hardly have made a better 5 opening in their bid to ex- • tend their 126-year winning ; I streak. ; Their tactics, deck work, and execution were flawless. “[They capitalised on Austra- | lia’s single false move and .; wrapped up the race with i i cool precision.