Freedom crashes Australia

Press, 25 September 1980, Page 34

Freedom crashes Australia

NZPA Newport, Rhode Island

Freedom sailed unimpeded to a 3-1 lead in the 1980 America’s Cup match yesterday, crushing Australia by three minutes 48 seconds on Rhode Island Sound and registered the biggest winning margin of the series. In spite of a bold and spirited Australian challenge this year, Freedom’s victory left it seeking only one more win to wrap up the twenty-

fourth defence of the America’s Cup for the New York Yacht Club.

The finishing margin between Freedom and Australia yesterday was greater than that in any of the 1977 Cup races, when Australia lost, 0-4, to Courageous. Freedom, skippered by Dennis Conner, hammered Australia at the start and slipped steadily away up the first windward beat. The blue-hulled American yacht established such a commanding lead on the opening 4.5 nautical mile weather leg that Jim Hardy

and his crew on Australia had little chance to fight their way back into the contest.

They did manage to erode Freedom’s advantage slightly on the second beat, and again on the downwind run. But by that stage they were too far behind to cause Freedom any concern. Australia has proved highly competitive in light airs, gaining tremendous thrust from its “bendy” mast and the additional sail area it creates on the mainsail.

Yesterday Australia was rigged for fresher conditions

— the mast was bent back to a more conventional upright, and it had its more conventional heavy-weather mainsail on. The weather outlook was for winds gusting from 15 to 25 knots, but the breezes on Rhode Island Sound are notorious for not obeying the predictions of the marine office.

Instead of winds of .15 knots and over, Australia encountered winds of 15 and under — the race started, and finished, in 12 knots of breeze that nwung progressively from the west by

55 degrees to the north at the end. The Australians faced an uncomfortable decision at the end of the race — whether to call a lay-day for today.

They have already used up two lay-days, and have only one left at their disposal. Freedom solved the problem for them, \by calling a lay-day of its own, probably because the Freedom camp was expecting light airs of the sort Australia has excelled in.

Today will be Freedom’s second lay-day of the series.