Leading yachtsmen to contest series

Press, 19 April 1985, Page 36

Leading yachtsmen to contest series

PA Wellington A strong line-up resembling a who’s who of America’s Cup yachting will contest the Citizen Watch match-racing series which starts off Auckland today. Top tacticians closely involved in the American, British and Italian challenges for the cup have been attracted to the invitation series. Rod Davis, an Olympic yachtsman associated with the American challenge, heads the list of competitors. He won the event in

1983. Among his opposition will be Irishman Harold Cudmore, who won the series in 1981 and has been runner-up three times. Cudmore is the nominated helmsman for the British America’s Cup effort. Mauro Pelaschier (Italy) has a big international reputation and is heading the Italian America’s Cup team while Gary Jobson (United States) is a former tactician for Ted Turner in a cup campaign. Representing Australia, will be lain Murray, a six-

time world 18ft skiff champion, and Gordon Lucas who has been named the man most likely to take over from John Bertrand in Alan Bond’s defence of the America’s Cup. There is also experience in the New Zealand skippers contesting the series. Russell Coutts won the gold medal in the Finn class at the 1984 Olympics, Tom Dodson was skipper of the Soling keel-boat at Los Angeles, and Brad Butterworth showed his skills sailing Stewart 345, winning the New Zealand trials.