AMERICA’S CUP : Jury Considers Protest Against Conner
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SAN DIEGO — An America’s Cup International Jury was meeting late Wednesday night to consider America3’s protest that Team Dennis Conner’s keel change in the wake of Sunday’s near-sinking was illegal both in application and protocol.
A ruling in favor of America3 would, in essence, end Conner’s campaign and send America3’s Mighty Mary into the defender finals against PACT 95’s Young America. A ruling in favor of Conner would put his Stars & Stripes back on the water against Young America today, needing a victory to eliminate Mighty Mary from the semifinals.
Earlier in the day, the America’s Cup ’95 Defense Committee had issued a statement that the International Jury would not be called upon to adjudicate the dispute. The inference was that it had monitored the repairs on Stars & Stripes and they were in compliance with regulations.
Frustrated, America 3unleashed a barrage of further protest.
“Dennis went the sympathetic route with the Defense Committee and got a sympathetic response,” said Will Robinson, a spokesman for America 3. “Where do we go for appeal?”
The Defense Committee, Robinson said, is made up of San Diego Yacht Club members. Conner, of course, is a member and former commodore.
America3 assembled a 16-page packet detailing the basis of its protest, including a letter from syndicate president Vincent C. Moeyersoms. The letter maintained Team Dennis Conner replaced the damaged keel with a dissimilar keel, changed its position on the boat and took on and removed ballast. The packet included correspondence between G. Wytie Cable, the defense committee chairman, and Ken McAlpine, the measurement committee chairman, the former conceding the keel’s position had been moved and the latter questioning the similarity in configuration.
Shortly after the packet was distributed, it was announced that the International Jury would, after all, hear the protest.
Once again, on-the-water activities were overshadowed. When Young America defeated Mighty Mary, it put Team Conner in position to clinch a finals berth with a victory over Young America today . . . if Stars & Stripes survives the jury’s verdict. The real showdown is scheduled for Friday, when the embittered rivals--Team Conner and America3, are scheduled to meet.
Team New Zealand wrapped up its semifinal series on the challengers’ side with another victory, running its record to 31-1. It will practice while the others finish the semifinals, taking forfeit losses. Its only loss was decided in the protest room by . . . the International Jury.