SAILING / RICH ROBERTS : Koch Might Join Forces With Conner

The America’s Cup seems like only yesterday, but . . .

If the 1995 event follows the schedule of the ’92 defense, the first syndicates will be moving into San Diego a year from now.

The next Cup could be a lot like the last one--lots of challengers but not many defense candidates. Would you believe . . . one?

America 3’s Bill Koch still hasn’t committed to campaigning again, considering the time and money--mostly his own--his effort involved. But it should surprise nobody if he backed Dennis Conner, who never said an unkind word about his wealthier opponent.

In a market study of corporate America, Koch determined that only $35-$40 million in funding would be available to support a ’95 defense--about what Koch and Conner collected from outside sources. If money remains tight, the San Diego Yacht Club could fund the defense as part of the organization of the Cup, with Koch’s help and one handpicked defender.

Guess who.

The SDYC, which recognized the mistake of turning control of the event over to the America’s Cup Organizing Committee last time, is trying to walk a fence between liability and control this time.

“We actually made some money on the event,” Commodore Fred Delaney said.

But the ACOC, perceived as an arm of the club, wound up owing a lot that might never be collected.

Sir Michael Fay, frustrated a third time in ‘92, was quietly waffling about trying again when he departed after watching his New Zealand challenge melt down over the bowsprit issue. Now a burned-out Fay has turned it over to Peter Blake, who managed his ’95 effort--or mismanaged it, depending on the point of view.

But unlike last time when Blake pitted Rod Davis and Russell Coutts in competition for the skipper’s role, he has already handed the helm to Coutts. Supposedly, native son Chris Dickson and the American-born Davis, benched in favor of Coutts when the Kiwis started to crash, also were considered.

Coutts recently surpassed Dickson as the top-ranked match racer in the world, and Dickson probably didn’t help his cause by ripping Blake’s handling of the syndicate in New Zealand Yachting magazine.

“The skipper is the leader of the sailing team, not somebody you just hire and fire,” Dickson was quoted. “That is a disaster.”

Even those members of the crew who favored Davis sensed he was sailing with one foot on a banana peel, and those who favored Coutts looked for a second banana. Dickson had predicted well before New Zealand’s collapse that “the internal disharmony within the Kiwi camp will accelerate their demise if things start going wrong,” and he defended Davis for sailing conservatively and not taking risks, considering his tenuous position.

By selecting Coutts so soon, Blake seems to concede Dickson’s points.

Dickson and Davis will have roles in the ’95 Cup. Dickson apparently will be involved with a second New Zealand team, and Davis may join old pal Paul Cayard with Il Moro di Venezia. Apparently, Davis harbors no ill feelings that it was Cayard’s relentless hammering of the bowsprit issue that caused the Kiwis to come unglued.

Fourteen challengers, including two Russian teams, have paid their $75,000 entry fees--refundable if they show up to race. The only question with one of the Russians is how to comply with the Cup’s Deed of Gift requiring a home port on an “arm of the sea.” The home port listed was a reservoir in Moscow.

Cup tourists this year had to travel from Mission Bay to Coronado Island to look at high fences, locked gates and surly security guards. Organizers would like to have all the syndicates in one area and semi-open to public view, but it’s not working out. Commercial Basin in upper San Diego Bay is the preferred site but has room for only 10 or 11 teams. And Mission Bay interests are making attractive offers.

Locals say the best sailing in San Diego is in the late summer and fall, but the Cup finals probably will be in May again to accommodate European television preferences.

Sailing Notes

MATCH RACING--Rod Davis, the only three-time winner of the Congressional Cup at Long Beach, might return March 8-14 after a year’s absence for the America’s Cup, but the list of world-class skippers might be short. Peter Gilmour, the Australian president of the Professional Sailors Assn., is urging members not to compete in events without prize money. . . . The first indoor event is scheduled this weekend at Bercy, France. Ten top skippers, including Davis, Gilmour, Russell Coutts, Chris Dickson and Paul Cayard, will sail 12-foot mini-12-meters in an arena equipped with electric fans for a purse of $100,000.

NOTEWORTHY--There are three entries in the “Jules Verne Trophy” race, with Cam Lewis of Newport, R.I., joining a French team in an effort to sail around the world in--that’s right--80 days. Others are New Zealand’s Peter Blake and France’s Olivier DeKersauson, all sailing multihulls. Organizers are seeking a sponsor to post a $1-million prize. . . . Round-the-world sailor Dodge Morgan will address the Long Beach YC Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m. It took him 150 days. Details: (800) 937-BOAT. . . . The Tom Blackaller Fund has money available to support national and international sailing campaigns for sailors 25 and younger. Details: (415) 776-2672.