Yachting: Young America back in one piece

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Unfathomable as it may have seemed, Young America's snapped and buckled America's Cup yacht could be back racing again in a month's time.

USA53, which almost sank three weeks ago, has been rebuilt in a boatyard in suburban Auckland and is now able to float again without the help of water pumps and air bags.

The head of the Young America syndicate, John Marshall, has so much confidence in the fortified yacht that if it was ready now, he would be racing it in round three of the Louis Vuitton Cup starting on Thursday.

It is still a way off that yet. But the return of USA53 will go a long way to bolstering the New York Yacht Club campaign walloped by disaster after disaster.

Marshall, back in Auckland yesterday, said support from the United States had been strong after their nightmarish fortnight. Their first boat snapped, their second suffered a stream of breakages, the syndicate got a bonus point and then lost it, and the team were accused, then cleared, of misleading a jury.

"There have been a lot of people coming forward with funds or technical help," he said. "They see us as a serious contender and that we should be in this regatta."

By Christmas, the New Yorkers will be a two-boat team again, and USA53 - saved from a watery grave - could be back racing.

"It's very possible. When she's back to 100 percent race ready, she will be capable of racing in the semifinals if we want her to," said Marshall More than 2m in the middle of the boat have been replaced at the Salthouse yard in Greenhithe. The next step is to put the keel back in, and USA53 should be back at the American Express NZ Cup Village base next week, and sailing by December 16.

The torn hull was turned upside down, cut in half and a new section weaved in. The side decks where the boat initially crumpled have been beefed up.

Repairs to the boat have been covered by insurance.

But it is still not known why the boat bent like a banana while racing Nippon in round two. Kiwi designer Bruce Farr and his team have been cleared of any blame, and investigations continue.

But Young America have promised to lay down all their findings for all to see, and act on - Marshall wants an overhaul of the boat design rule.

He said an engineering report would be handed to all the Cup syndicates, so they could consider a review of the rule to make future boats stronger.

"The class as a whole really need this. I believe many of the boats have had major structural problems, but no one wants to come forward and say so," he said.

Young America's second boat, USA58, has had its share of problems after it was thrown into round two, suffering damage to mast fittings and delamination in the deck. It has been re-strengthened during the break, and lengthened by a metre at the stern.