Word: gretel
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...record of Henry Mercer's 12-meter Weatherly spoke for itself. Three times off Newport last week, Weatherly trounced Ross Anderson's Nefertiti to make a runaway of their climactic duel for the right to defend the America's Cup next month against Australia's Gretel. In each of the three races, the boat skippered by Bus Mosbacher won by a bigger margin...
Fortnight ago, Packer gave her a sterner test. When a raging nor'easter swept into Newport from the slate-grey North Atlantic, he ordered Gretel to sea for a race against Vim. As small-craft warnings fluttered along the Rhode Island coast, the two boats ran boldly before the 25-knot wind, working up speeds as high as 12 knots, lee rails awash and scant yards of churning ocean separating their glistening hulls. Aboard Vim, Helmsman Archie Robertson braced himself against the cockpit wall and strained to hold the wheel steady. Aboard Gretel, Skipper Jock Sturrock wiped salt spume...
Finally, inexorably, Gretel began to walk away, first by 20 yds., then 50, then...
Desperately, Robertson eased sail; relentlessly, Gretel increased her margin-sliding through the heavy seas with ghostly grace. She stood high, she footed fast, she simply could not be caught-even by accident. Just one-quarter mile from the finish line, Gretel's light blue Genoa jib tore loose from its main clew and flopped overboard. But the damage was quickly repaired and Gretel swept triumphantly past Brenton Reef lightship, with Vim trailing in her wake...
Back in Newport Harbor, Skipper Sturrock headed for Fair Oaks, a sprawling, 27-room mansion that Sir Frank Packer has leased for the summer. Pipe clenched firmly in his teeth, Packer listened silently to Sturrock's account of Gretel's race with Vim. "She may do," Sir Frank nodded. "She may do, after...