New San Diego move rejected

Press, 28 January 1988, Page 48

New San Diego move rejected

PA Auckland Michael Fay has rejected American proposals for a new-look America’s Cup regatta in 1990. Replying to the latest moves by the San Diego Yacht Club and Sail America to have New Zealand, through the Mercury Bay Boating Club, scrap its big-boat chai-

lenge later this year, Mr Fay said: “New Zealand will not abandon its 1988 challenge.” He tagged the proposition to have the next America’s Cup regatta in new 70ft lightweight boats as: “Nothing more than an ultimatum. “New Zealand is not prepared to abandon its 1988 challenge for the

America’s Cup, scrap its yacht which is due to leave the shed in six weeks and come back again at their convenience in 1990,” Mr Fay said. Sail America and the San Diego Yacht Club proposed the challenge in 1990 using a new class of light-weight single-hulled yacht devised in consultation with the New Zealand

designer, Bruce Farr. Meanwhile, the British millionaire yachtsman, Peter de Savary, has asked the New York State Supreme Court to force San Diego to accept multiple challenges for the America’s Cup in 1989 or 1990 and in the meantime not race against New Zealand.