Crusader gains revenge

Press, 19 December 1986, Page 4

Crusader gains revenge

By

CHRIS PETERS,

Fremantle Britain's White Crusader yesterday took revenge on the Kiwis for helping tip it out of the America’s Cup, by coming back to beat New Zealand’s trial horse KZS in the Louis Vuitton Fleet Race. The margin when NewZealand’s cup racer KZ7 put paid to Britain’s campaign last Friday was six seconds. Yesterday, White Crusader, skippered by Eddie Owens who was standing in for Harold Cudmore, flicked past KZS in the shadow of the line to score by five seconds. But for the first eight-and-a-half legs of the six-leg fleet race, it looked like another all-the-way win for the New Zealanders.

Up the last beat, the British and New Zealand boats split to opposite sides of the course looking for the windshift, and when thev came together again, it was White Crusader which crossed behind, but cut over and slammed the door on the Kiwis.

A furious tacking due! erupted in the beat to the line, but Owens kept Barnes locked away and crossed the finish just a half-length in front.

Third home was the NewYork Yacht Club’s boat America 11, which crossed Imip 23s behind KZS.

But if the British took some measure of revenge on the Kiwis, the New Zealanders in turn had a measure of satisfaction in defeating Australia 111, the boat which beat it to the world championship in February. They were much too good for Alan Bond’s trial horse, finishing imin 44s in front, with the Australian boat in turn being run down bv America 11. Fifth home was Azzurra from Italy, Britain's White Horse Challenge, nicknamed ‘‘the Hippo," was sixth, Dennis Conner’s trial horse Stars And Stripes ’B5 seventh, and Heart of America finished last.