Mr America's Cup uninspired by hula

By TERRY MADDAFORD

When someone as astute as yacht designer Olin Stephens throws doubts on the advantage of the hula on Team New Zealand's NZL82 - even suggesting it might not "be in strict accordance of the rule" - you start wondering.

"The hula, as I see it, is strictly an invasion of the rules," said 94-year-old Stephens who, on his fourth visit to Auckland, is promoting a new book.

"But, at the same time, the measurers are expected to know the intent of the rule.

"Some have compared it with the winged keel, but that had a scientific base. There is none of that with the hula.

"It might not be in strict accordance with the rule. It is not, as I see it, a tactical improvement."

Of the bigger bulb sported by Team New Zealand on their keel, Stephens has no problem.

"That is a free choice.

"I haven't seen either boat [NZL82 and Alinghi's SUI64] out of the water but from my experience the longer bulb should give New Zealand a slight advantage in tacking but perhaps not in straight line sailing.

"Any changes are a battle to get the most stability with the least wetted area."

But, forgetting what might or might not make a boat go faster, Stephens is more concerned with the eligibility rules.

"I believe they should be much stricter on the rules governing the nationality of the crews."

In casting his eye over the current contest and continuing a long association with New Zealand yachts and yachtsmen stretching back to the time he spent with Auckland identities Doug Bremner and Chris Bouzaid, Stephens said he felt sorry for Dean Barker.

"I imagine Dean Barker steers a boat around a course as fast as Russell Coutts," said Stephens who, with much delight, saw Bremner's Ta'Aroa, which was designed by Stephens, on the Hauraki Gulf during Tuesday's racing.

"But Coutts has the support of a well-oiled Machine in the Alinghi organisation.

"Their [Team New Zealand] loss on Tuesday looked like an organisational failure. Someone has to be responsible for calling that stuff [weather]."

Often referred to as "Mr America's Cup," Stephens is best known for his partnership with Drake Sparkman.

Sparkman and Stephens ruled the design world. Stephens was the designer, his partner the broker who sold the designs to the world - more than 2000 of them.

What then does he think of the new America's Cup class yachts?

"As far as I can see, there's not much in the way of negatives about the new boat," said Stephens, who had a long association with the old cup J-Boat.

"I don't think you can go back. I don't particularly like some aspects - but that has more to do with materials."

Controversy surrounded Ranger - the boat used for the 1937 defence on which Stephens sailed as the "chairman of the tactical committee" - was it a Stephens-alone design or did his fellow designer Starling Burgess play a role?

It later emerged it was Stephens' work, starting a remarkable record of success in the cup.

There was no doubt after that.

Stephens also designed America's Cup winners Columbia (1958), Constellation (1964), Intrepid (1967 and 1970), Courageous (1974 and 1977) and Freedom (1980).

The 12-metre Intrepid, he insists, was the best: "A breakthrough."

Although called on to play a part in the 1983 defence, Stephens was eventually overlooked by Dennis Conner.

It was an acrimonious time. Stephens, for the first time, stayed away from an America's Cup and the United States waved it goodbye as the Australians became the first country to defeat the United States.

But Stephens has lost none of his enthusiasm for the sport.

He's in New Zealand to promote his second book Lines which gives full details of 50 of his designs.

"I'm ashamed it has to be so expensive (US$125). It is a coffee table book," he said. "I'm just embarrassed that it costs so much."

He should not be.

Continuous coverage of today's America's Cup race will begin on nzherald.co.nz at 12.30pm.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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