Word: newporters
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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From the moment he arrived in Newport last June with his twelve-meter yacht Southern Cross, Alan Bond has been upsetting the genteel traditions of America's Cup competition. First the Australian land promoter and mining tycoon uncrated 20,000 cans of Aussie Courage beer in a resort that prefers champagne or gin-and-tonics. Then he gave in to his crassly commercial instincts, briefly sporting the name of his own 20,000-acre development on the transom of his yacht. Finally, Southern Cross's tender rudely ran an opposition boat off its practice course...
Southern Cross took an important step in that direction last week when she swept a best-four-of-seven series against the French hope, France, to become the official challenger for the Cup. By this week Bond should know which American vessel Southern Cross will face off Newport in the final races that begin Sept. 10: the new aluminum Courageous, backed by an East Coast syndicate, or Intrepid, the wooden, two-time Cup winner from California...
Whichever American boat he faces, Bond, 36, is ready to give Newport its most competitive race in decades. Mounting the challenge has cost him $9 million, but he figures the money is well spent. The major purpose of Bond's nautical campaign is to promote his projects in Western Australia, particularly Yanchep Sun City, a recreational development near Perth. On that score, says Bond, "we have already won." Almost as an afterthought, he adds: "Only the sporting outcome of the race is left to be determined...
When Southern Cross arrived in Newport, Bond rotated skippers to hone their competitive edge; he did not name Jim Hardy captain until July 28. The promoter brought to Newport Gretel II, Australia's ill-fated challenger from 1970, to serve as Southern Cross's sparring partner, and a retinue of 41, including three of his own sailmakers. Should there be a protest during the race, Bond is ready with a rules expert and lawyer, plus a video-tape camera to record all races for replay. "Expert advocacy," says Bond, "is as much a part of racing...
Maze of Grass. Apart, that is, from earthwork artists. Unfortunately, the Newport show is short on earthworks -simply because land there costs too much. There is one piece by Richard Fleischner, in the grounds of Chateau-sur-Mer, that shows exactly the kind of unpretentious but intelligent relation that an earthwork can have to its environment: an undulating meander maze, a barely noticeable ripple on the lawn, covered with sod grass. It is low-key and perfectly appropriate in its site, harking back to a time when stately homes had garden labyrinths as a matter of course...