KZ7 claws way back from dead

Press, 13 December 1986, Page 88

KZ7 claws way back from dead

By

CHRIS PETERS,

of NZPA in Fremantle

New Zealand’s KZ7 clawed its way back from the nautical dead to defeat Britain’s White Crusader in a gripping America’s Cup elimination duel off Fremantle yesterday.

The Irish-born skipper, Harold Cudmore, known here as "Mad Harry” used stock-car tactics more suitable to Dirty Harry to all but knock the Kiwis out of the race midway round the course, but the Kiwis came back and nailed the British down to cross the line 6sec in front. However, the race was the subject of a protest Tired in by the British after an incident on the first reach. This protest has since been withdrawn. The loss means the British are all but out of. the running for a semifinal berth.

New Zealand notched its twenty-first win on the trot, but it was a close-run thing. They lost the start by Bsec, were 15sec behind at the first mark, cut the margin to 7sec at the next and held it for the third leg, then began the reaches out and back to the wing mark looking set to climb back on top of White Crusader. But twice during the first reach Cudmore — rated the best skipper here apart from Dennis Conner — used his skills and the rules of the road to barge out at the New Zealand boat, forcing it to tack away. On the second occasion, as the New Zealanders had locked on to the British and were ready to roar through on the left,

Cudmore’s tactic nearly brought the Kiwis undone. White Crusader cut left and barged at the Kiwis, Chris Dickson turned sharply away, and as the British cut back on course, KZ7 was left with her spinnaker flapping and apparent problems with the spinnaker, pole. For what seemed an age, KZ7 wallowed along while White Crusader cleared out. The New Zealanders dropped 31sec to round the wing mark 38sec behind, lost more time to go round the bottom mark 41sec behind, and the race looked White

Crusader’s for the keeping. But upwind they clawed back 19sec, downwind for the last time they pulled in another 14sec, then they rounded for the beat home right up White Crusader’s transom and ready for battle again. Rounding the mark New Zealand headed off to the left while the British stayed on the righthand course before turning on to the same tack but keeping their distance. New Zealand cut back under the British just one boat length in arrears, Cudmore covered, New Zealand tacked right and left again to break free and head off on their own once more. In the freshening

breeze the race was now a test of lifts, wind shifts, and upwind speed. When the pair came together again New Zealand again cut under the British stern, but this time came out of the tacking duel in front. With Cudmore — who is tactician on his boat after taking the helm for the start — locked in jail, the Kiwis never put a foot wrong.

The British skipper cut and thrust, threw out the bait, tempted and teased, thrashed and attacked, but the Kiwis covered his every move, gave away nothing, and came home first.

In a day that early on promised to be one of upsets, Canada II led New York’s America II over six legs before America II got back on top on the final downwind run to score by Imin 16sec. Stars And Stripes shook off a determined French Kiss to score by 2min 7sec, and U.S.A, beat Eagle by a comfortable smin 51sec.

New Zealand stays unassailable at the top of the table with 162 points, but a postage stamp covers the rest with Stars And Stripes now back in second spot on 118, French Kiss third on 117, America II fourth on 116, and U.S.A. fifth on 115. White Crusader is off the pace on 91.