Connie to the Defense

Day after day in the final America's Cup trials, only the lightest of breezes rippled Rhode Island Sound, and day after day Constellation gently wafted to victory on the 7-and 8-knot whispers. "Ah, but wait for the heavy weather," smiled American Eagle fans.

One afternoon last week the wind kicked up to 15 knots--hardly a roaring nor'easter but plenty stiff for Eagle to show what she had. And that was not enough. Constellation boomed out ahead after the start, tucked Eagle neatly into her backwind, was 43 sec. ahead rounding the first mark, and wound up clobbering Eagle by 4 min. 29 sec. Less than two hours later, Commodore Henry Morgan, chairman of the New York Yacht Club Selection Committee, stepped aboard Connie at her moorings. "It is my very happy duty," he said, "to announce that Constellation has been selected to defend the America's Cup in September."

Sailor & Sportsman. It was a long sail for the newly built 12 meter. In the opening sets of trials, Eagle and her skipper William Cox seemed able to beat anything without wings. What made Connie the better boat eventually was a difficult--and genuinely sportsmanlike--move on the part of Eric Ridder, 46, her skipper and part owner. Though Ridder is a crackerjack blue-water sailor, he never could get the better of Eagle's Bill Cox. So he turned the start and the all-important windward legs over to his second in command, Bob Bavier, 46. "It takes a big man to remain in the background while another man steers his dream," said a crew member, but Ridder wanted the cup more than the dream.

Bavier's special excellence is getting the last fraction of a knot out of his sails and hull. Not a man for complex tactics, he left most of the maneuvering to Cox, instead concentrated on speed. With that strategy, he lost only once in seven races--and then in fluky breezes that wandered all round the compass. Five of the six wins were not even close. That still left Eagle with the better overall record for the trials (19-10 v. Connie's 18-11), but there could be no question as to which was now the faster, better-crewed boat.

"In Gorgeous Shape." Constellation's next appointment is Sept. 15, in the best four out of seven races against Britain's Sovereign, the boat picked two days later to become the 19th challenger in the 113-year history of the America's Cup. She has done well, too--soundly thrashing rival Kurrewa V in six of the eight races in their final trials.

The plan for Connie will be the same: Bavier at the helm, Ridder probably spelling him on some off-the-wind legs. The boat itself is just about perfect. "We've got our sails in just gorgeous shape," says Bavier. Some have gone back to the sailmaker as many as ten times; they will all be stored away until the big day. "I think we have the best 12 meter that ever floated," adds the proud helmsman. "Well, don't be the first to lose to the British," laughed Eagle Skipper Cox, offering his congratulations. "My God," said Ridder, "what an appalling thought."

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