Murray looks for miracle

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 72

Murray looks for miracle

NZPA-Reuter Fremantle The Australian America’s Cup defender, lain Murray, used yesterday’s rest day to look for a miracle to stop the San Diego challenger, Dennis Conner, taking the trophy back to the United States. Conner’s Stars and Stripes crushed Murray’s Kookaburra 111 by one minute 46 seconds on Monday to claim his third straight victory in the best-of-seven final series for the cup he lost to Australia in 1983. No one in 136 years of competition for the oldest international sporting trophy has come back from three down and strict rules prevented Murray making changes to his yacht during yesterday’s rest day.

“There is not a lot we can do, but we will try a few new things,” said Murray yesterday, adding: “Unfortunately the boat we are sailing against appears to be faster than we are.”

A defence syndicate spokesman said Murray and his 11-strong team were yesterday studying sails, reviewing tactics and planning to come out mors aggressively in today’s do-or-die race with Stars and Stripes.

Conner’s team was continuing its relentless development programme, testing new sails and working to tweak even more speed from the gunsmoke blue “San Diego Steamroller”.

“The work never stops. We haven’t won the cup yet and the speed difference between the two yachts is really very small,” said the Stars and Stripes design coordinator, John Marshall.

Fremantle is now resigned to a Conner victory and huge cheering crowds of Americans outside the Stars and Stripes dock contrast with sombre faces round the Kookaburra base.

Airlines report tourists are looking for early departures and dozens of souvenir shops which sprouted to service the cup followers are offering discounts. The Stars and Stripes team is already acting like a winner. Conner sailed back from Monday’s race triumphant under a huge balloon-like spinnaker bearing a sponsor’s name. “One more race. One more race,” American supporters chanted as Conner guided his boat back to the dock.