Bus & His Bag

Emil ("Bus") Mosbacher Jr., 45, is not the sort of fellow anybody would invite into a friendly poker game. Behind that genial grin are the instincts of a tiger shark. In last week's America's Cup observation trials off Newport, R.I., Bus once more demonstrated why he is rated the slickest blue-water sailor in the world. At the helm of Intrepid, he ran off a string of five straight victories, including a 3-min. 46-sec. trouncing of Pat Dougan's refurbished Columbia -- the boat that was expected to give Intrepid its stiffest battle for the right to defend the cup against Australia's Dame Pattie in September.

Bus's opponent aboard Columbia was Briggs Cunningham, 60, who skippered her to a cup victory over Britain's out classed Sceptre in 1958 -- after barely beating Mosbacher's older, slower Vim in the final U.S. trials. That was the year that Mosbacher invented the "tail chasing" start. While the two boats were jockeying for position, Bus kept Vim's bow practically on top of Columbia's transom. Columbia could neither jibe nor tack without fouling Vim. Not until Mosbacher broke off for the starting line could Cunningham swing into action. By then, Vim was precious seconds in the lead.

This time at Newport, the crucial moment (see diagram) came 2 min. before the starting cannon, when Cunningham, after crossing the line early, swung Columbia around to get back onside. Instantly, Mosbacher spun Intrepid's wheel; his foredeck crew ran up a jib to windward--and in a flash Intrepid cut inside Columbia to gain the right of way. When Mosbacher jibed and crossed the starting line, Columbia was hopelessly backwinded and 40 sec. behind.

By week's end Columbia had lost yet another race, this time to Constellation, and Owner Dougan had replaced Cunningham with 39-year-old Bill Ficker, a former Star Class world champion. Intrepid appeared to have the defender's job virtually locked up--and attention at Newport switched to the Australian challengers. If the America's Cup were awarded for beauty, the sleek green-and-gold Dame Pattie would win easily. If it were awarded for brass, Skipper Jock Sturrock would be well in the lead. He left no doubt that he expects to win come September. But if the cup is awarded for tactics, it is likely to wind up in Bus Mosbacher's bag of tricks.

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