Yachting: Young America facing oblivion

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Young America are wrestling with rumours, crew blunders and the threat of thrown races in their very real struggle to survive in the America's Cup.

Yesterday the challenge from the New York Yacht Club sank to an all-time low, dropping to ninth of the 10 boats left in the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Their chances of making the top-six cut for the semifinals are not at the bottom of the ocean yet, but its obviously clear that Young America, once second overall, need to win all four of their remaining races to be sure of getting through.

There is general agreement that their boat, USA58, is not at fault for losing eight of the last 10 races - there are those outside the New York syndicate who argue it is the fastest yacht in the challenger fleet.

Drained skipper Ed Baird said last night that it was a string of mistakes on board that were to blame. He reeled off a list of errors against AmericaOne and Prada, against Stars & Stripes and Nippon, that lost them races they could have won.

Yesterday's drubbing by AmericaOne was determined straight after the start: Baird and his afterguard chose to go right, but the big windshift came to Paul Cayard's boat on the left.

"We've not been sailing as well as the people next to us," he said "At the end of the day I take responsibility for what has happened. I assembled this team, and I have to make sure they're doing the best job."

Rumours are floating around the Viaduct Basin that make you think the Young Americans are not confident about spending Christmas Down Under.

Baird was flabbergasted at the suggestion that the Young Americans were already negotiating to sell USA58 to another American syndicate in the event that they did not qualify, a deal which probably would never be allowed to go ahead anyway.

Syndicate head John Marshall denied that Young America were in financial difficulties, saying there would be a "major announcement" today that would refute the rumour.

Baird said of the rumours: "In light air there's more time to talk."

Then there is the talk of syndicates who have already sealed their spots in the semifinals throwing a race to knock the New York Yacht Club out of the America's Cup.

The most obvious opportunity would be for series leaders AmericaOne, competitors with Young America for the corporate US dollar, to hand their race over to semifinal contenders Le Defi France today.

Skipper Paul Cayard laughed at the suggestion, and said the French were quite capable of beating his crew on their own merits.

Baird said thrown races were a threat.

"There are people who don't want us to make the semifinals because they respect our chances from then on," he said. "We've got a good, solid team who have had some tough breaks in the last couple of weeks. We're still fighting the difficulties we had in round two.

"Then there are others who will see it as a chance to kick us while we're down.

"I just hope everybody plays fair and square."

In times of trouble, America's Cup syndicates have often brought down the hatchet on key crew members to try to change their fortunes.

"We've talked about reshuffling the crew every day since the first race. But you often find when teams make big changes at the last minute, it tumbles the team into greater chaos," Baird said.

"I've got a friend who says 'dance with the one who brung ya.'"

On Young America's must-win list for the next four days are, in order, the faltering Spanish Challenge, second-placed America True, last-placed Young Australia, and last but not least, the everimproving French.

Baird said: "It wouldn't surprise me at all if it came down to the last race."