Sport: Victory for Plastic Fantastic

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The duel began well enough for the New York Yacht Club's America II. The 12- meter sloop led its competitor, New Zealand, for most of their 24-mile match race on the choppy Indian Ocean off Fremantle, the port for Perth in Western Australia. But then the Fremantle Doctor, a blustery afternoon wind so-called because it cures the 100 degreesF temperatures of the antipodal summer onshore, blew in and riffled the pages of the record book. The fiber glass- hulled New Zealand, dubbed the "Plastic Fantastic," surged ahead on the wind and crossed the finish line 15 seconds ahead of America II, ending one of sport's most venerable records. For the first time in 135 years, an entry of the New York Yacht Club will not sail in an America's Cup final.

In 1983 the N.Y.Y.C. surrendered the Cup to Australia II, the winged-keel wonder of Perth Millionaire Alan Bond, after holding the yachting crown since 1851, the longest winning streak in sport. America II's loss last week was the final disappointment in a $15 million, three-year drive to recapture the Cup. As a stunned Skipper John Kolius, 35, piloted America II back to its slip after the race with New Zealand, crew members wept. "How would you feel," asked Kolius, "if you called into work tomorrow morning and it wasn't there?"

The loss was only one of many firsts in this 26th Cup, which is longer, larger, more expensive and more upset-prone than any in history. Not only is the competition being held away from the gentle breezes of the U.S. East Coast for the first time since 1870, but it has also widened dramatically in scope. A record 13 syndicates from six nations have so far spent an unprecedented $200 million for the right to challenge Australia for the Cup. There are two syndicates each from Italy and France as well as ones from Canada, Britain and New Zealand. In addition to the N.Y.Y.C., U.S. syndicates from around the country included the sponsors of Heart of America (Chicago), USA (San Francisco), Stars & Stripes (San Diego), Eagle (Newport Beach). The twelve- year-old Courageous IV (New Haven) withdrew in October.

Beyond that, the leading contender, New Zealand, which has won 33 of 34 races so far, is a newcomer sailing in its first Cup. The Kiwis' fiber-glass hull is the first in the history of the event (the others are made of aluminum), and the development could produce, say some experts, yet another first: an all-Pacific America's Cup final, commencing Jan. 31.

Four challengers, who have sailed 34 races each since October, have emerged to compete in the semifinals, which begin Dec. 28. The leader, New Zealand, has amassed 198 points out of a possible 199; it will sail a best-ofseven series against fourth-place French Kiss (129 points), named after its sponsor, Kis, a French manufacturer of photographic equipment. Kiss has been a surprise, surviving with a brash young crew and steady sailing. Second-place Stars & Stripes (154 points), skippered by Dennis Conner, who lost the Cup in '83 and is determined to get it back, will battle USA (139 points), a radical boat from San Francisco's St. Francis Yacht Club skippered by a wily veteran, Tom Blackaller.