Sport: Confident Challenger

Sceptre looked good—from the clean curve of her underbody to the long, sharp sweep of her bow. But just eight months after lucky gold sovereigns were tossed into molten lead and her keel was cast on the shore of Scotland's Holy Loch, Britain's yare challenger for the America's Cup also looked a slow boat. In a dozen tune-up races with an elderly twelve-meter trial horse, Evaine, the gleaming Sceptre had been beaten every time. Last fortnight as Sceptre was hauled out of the water for inspection and checking, squalls of criticism blew across...