Conner retains Cup

Press, 12 September 1988, Page 17

Conner retains Cup

By

PETER HALLWRIGHT

of NZPA in San Diego

Dennis Conner’s 2-0 victory in the 27th America’s Cup sorted out the sailing contest, but it left a big legal question unanswered.

Conner’s 60ft catamaran may have cruised round the 39-mile course, finishing a comfortable 21min ahead of Michael Fay’s 133 ft monohull to secure the Cup for the moment. But the expected defeat on the water had no effect on Fay’s determination to return to court as soon as possible, despite his $2O million bill for the campaign so far. The energetic Aucklander moves to New York shortly to take up the fight. “I will not be going home to New Zealand until after that protest has been heard in the Court and I’d like to be home for Christmas,” he said. New rules for handling the next America’s Cup require a 24-month lag between. the end of any litigation arising out of the present tussle before the next event can be staged. The San Diego Yacht Club, eager to hold the match around May 1991, is concerned that a lengthy court action and subsequent appeals could drag the case out for 2-3 years. Fay has yet to decide

whether to appeal or not if he loses, but he said he would move as quickly as possible 'to get a ruling from New York Supreme Court judge, Carmen Ciparick. The judge would not rule on the question in July this year, leaving the way open for Fay to seek a “full interpretation” of the Cup Deed of. Gift when the sailing was done. If Fay wins, the successful defenders forfeit the Cup and the next event will be sailed in Auckland. The home port and local businessmen will experience the sort of billion-dollar boom experienced by Fremantle two years ago. If Fay loses, Conner will be confirmed as one of the most successful America’s Cup sailors in history. The San Diego Yacht Club made sure there was no repeat of the “renegade” New Zealand America’s Cup challenge on Saturday, accepting a challenge from the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda less than a minute after the final gun marked Dennis Conner’s victory in the 27th match.