American Notes YACHTING

Even landlubbers who find yacht racing about as exciting as watching grass grow might get a charge out of the litigious storm swirling around the America's Cup. After the San Diego Yacht Club defeated a challenger from New Zealand a year ago, a New York judge took the Cup away from skipper Dennis Conner and awarded it to the loser. The judge reasoned that Conner had violated the "spirit" of the competition by racing a featherweight catamaran as a last-minute response to New Zealand's extra-long 132-ft. monohull.

Last week the case took another tack as a New York appeals court overturned that judgment and restored the Cup to the U.S. The decision was applauded in San Diego. But in New Zealand Michael Fay, head of the challenging syndicate, hooted, "A disgrace to sport. If it is not overturned, sportsmanship and the Cup are out the window." New Zealand will appeal. Planning for a 1992 Cup competition off San Diego has been on indefinite hold, but is now expected to resume.