Davis destined for more misery
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reports from San Diego
Rod Davis has been in a Louis Vuitton Cup final before and found himself on the wrong side. That was in 1992 when Italy's Il Moro di Venezia bullied aside New Zealand Challenge in a classic psychological power play.
Davis was dropped as skipper for the final two races, restored some pride by winning a silver medal at the Barcelona Olympics, and joined what looked like a mighty powerful Australian syndicate headed by John Bertrand, the only man to skipper a challenge to beat the Americans.
That little number fell apart when the newer of their two yachts sank. From there it was all catch-up and, though they made it to the final, Davis could do little else than watch the stern of Team New Zealand steered by Russell Coutts, the man who ousted him in 1992, sail away.
By the end of the first race, further distorted by the Aussies blowing out two spinnakers in quick succession, Davis almost needed binoculars. The Citizen timers made it 4min 55sec. If the Australians win a single race in the best of nine, it will catch the bookies unaware.
The Kiwis should be able to wrap things up by Sunday and, as they have now changed their story and said they have not put all the developmental changes into play and are reserving a secret weapon for the cup itself, the prospects are intriguing.
So, as has often happened in this 1995 America's Cup, the focus may remain on the defender course. Only Dennis Conner could get up after a count of 10 and come back to win a round.
One hit on a quirky track does not make a knock-out, but his part in a one-two suffered by Kevin Mahaney's Pact '95 makes it all the more possible for Bill Koch's America3 to win the defence slot again. Mahaney is confident they can put their game back together.
The softening wind suited Conner and his team, who know how to drag every ounce of perfomance out of a boat optimised for light air. The Packers have looked like slow starters before but to have their two-point advantage wiped out so swiftly is not the best way of creating confidence and authority.
LOUIS VUITTON CUP: Final: Race One: Team New Zealand bt oneAustralia, 4min 55sec.
CITIZEN CUP: Final: Day Two: Stars & Stripes bt Young America, 1min 15sec. Standings: 1 Pact '95, America3, 2 pts.; 3 Stars & Stripes, 1.
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