Cup Trials

Off Newport's Brenton Reef Lightship last week, wind and fog exacted taut performances from the 12-meter U.S. yachts in the second series of trials for the role of defender in September's battle for the America's Cup. But while Sceptre, the British challenger, nimbly outran its own trial horse (a U.S. 12-meter named Gleam), the U.S. contenders knocked one another off in a bewildering series of form reversals. At week's end only Easterner looked a loser. Still in the running: Skipper Briggs Cunningham's Columbia, Arthur Knapp Jr.'s Weatherly, Donald Matthews' 19-year-old Vim.

Last month's trials established Columbia as the early favorite, but in the subsequent New York Yacht Club cruise, old Vim beat the new boats handsomely. Then last week, Weatherly came alive, beat both Vim and Columbia. The trials ended with each of the three leaders having beaten the others in match races, but Weatherly, by winning its last five races, sported the best record. Won-lost standings: Weatherly 6-2, Columbia 5-3, Vim 5-3, Easterner 0-8. With so little to choose between the top three, the selection committee scheduled a final trial series beginning Labor Day.

A sailor for 40 years and world Star-class champion in 1930, Knapp, 51, is no stranger to America's Cup races. In the last one, 21 years ago, he crewed aboard Harold Vanderbilt's victorious Ranger. After a slow start, he molded Weatherly's crew into a smooth-working unit, and his boat continues to improve. Vim's Matthews, at 24 the youngest of the skippers, is unsurpassed at beating the competition to the starting line by precious seconds, in last week's trial series trailed only once at the opening gun. But many experts still like Columbia, and 51-year-old Skipper Cunningham, with an eye toward the bad weather that often roils New England waters in late September, feels that "heavy weather is Columbia's long suit." He admits his yacht is weakest with the wind astern but adds, "she's a bear cat to windward." And the saying goes that if a boat can go to windward better than the others, she does not have to do anything else. When polled, six experts who have seen all the races had some interesting observations:

Q. Which boat would you select to defend the Cup right now?

A. Weatherly (3), Vim (3).

Q. Which do you believe will finally be selected next month?

A. Columbia (5), Vim (1).

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