New look for British yacht

Press, 21 November 1986, Page 32

New look for British yacht

NZPA Fremantle White Crusader is getting a new look in a bid to boost the British yacht’s chances during the final challenger elimination races for the America’s Cup. The British syndicate is also seeking more cash from sponsors, and new backers, in a further move to enhance its prospects. White Crusader, lying equal fifth after two rounds of the challenger series, is being heavily modified at the Royal Thames Yacht Club syndicate’s dock in Fremantle before the third and last round robin starting on December 2. “We have cut the bow, the stern and the keel off and will have a very different boat for the next series,” one syndicate source said. But the syndicate president, Graham Walker, played down the extent of the work: "These alterations are not panic measures. We are adjusting the boat to counter the strengths and

weaknesses of our main opposition.” White Crusader is one of 12 yachts from six countries competing for the right to challenge an Australian yacht for the America’s Cup early next year. White Crusader climbed as high as third In the standings during the second round robin earlier this month but ended the round equal fifth with California’s USA after a series of gear failures robbed it of important wins. Mr Walker, who yesterday left for London, said a shortage of funds had held the syndicate back and that he would be asking sponsors for more money and trying to attract new investors. “We’d be leading the challenge series without question if we’d had more

money,” said Mr Walker. Meanwhile, the White Crusader crew headed by the Irish-born skipper, Harold Cudmore, are training on their second yacht Crusader 11, nicknamed “The Hippo”.