USA – Australia America’s Cup rematch off

by Rob Kothe on 9 Nov 2006 The much anticipated rematch between ‘Big Bad’ Dennis Conner and Australia’s John Bertrand, who famously took the America’s Cup from the New York Yacht Club’s skipper in 1983, is not going to happen at next week’s 2006 Audi Etchells Worlds in Fremantle.

Conner, who turns 64 in December, is considered by many to be ‘Mr America’s Cup’. He sailed nine campaigns over two decades and is perhaps, best known for losing the Cup to the Australia II team in 1983. In 1987 he climbed back from that defeat to win the prestigious silverware from the Australians, in the waters off Fremantle.

The Etchells One Design Class is sailed by many of sailing’s ‘big guns’ and this year’s Worlds Titles will be one of the classes most hotly contested events, with a strong international fleet taking part.

Conner was three times crowned Etchells World Champion. During the Etchells Worlds of 1991 off Fremantle, he remarked ‘the best sailing conditions in the world, are right here’ and Conner was a strong advocate for the city hosting the 2006 titles.

The Chairman of the Race committee Brian Thornley today has confirmed that Conner has pulled out of the regatta for undisclosed health reasons.

Conner said today’ ‘I was really looking forward to what I am sure will be a wonderful regatta. The venue is great and the people even nicer. I’ll just have to watch from a distance.’

His arch-rival from those heady America’s Cup days, John Bertrand, is still looking for his first Etchells Worlds title and he know he's running out of time. He too loves sailing in Fremantle, and indeed Bertrand sailed here last month finishing fourth in the warm-up Syd Corser Cup.

Earlier in the week Bertrand, who turns 60 next month, warned the regatta will take its toll. 'This regatta will be a fitness test as much as anything else.’

Today John Bertrand commented; ‘I will miss seeing Dennis again. But I can understand the situation, the Audi Etchells Worlds is going to be a very physical regatta and unless you’re in good trim, it would be a big call to race here.’

'There are probably 15 crews that can win this event, it’s a field full of Champions, but we will certainly all be giving it our best shot.'

Bertrand will be on the water tomorrow for the last warm up event, the Slam Etchells Nationals, which runs from this Friday 10th November and continues on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th.

Even without the big American, the field for this event and the World titles will be chock full of America’s Cup sailors - past and present.

The current Australian Champion Rob Brown was part of the Australia II team, as was Skip Lissiman from Perth. Both these skippers are in good form and looking to win the Worlds, while Mark Bradford from Brisbane and Noel ‘Nitro’ Drennan from Melbourne have interrupted their Oracle BMW America’s Cup campaign to race in Fremantle.

At least seventy boats will contest the Worlds with crews from Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, North America, Bermuda, Hong Kong and New Zealand fighting the strong Australian contingent.

The Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) and the Royal Perth Yacht Club (RPYC) are the host clubs, with the Fremantle Sailing Club providing the venue.

The World Championship title sponsor, Audi Australia, also sponsored the 2006 Audi Etchells Nationals. Audi Australia, who supports a wide range of Australian sailing events including the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and the Audi Regatta in Sydney, will be certain to make these memorable Worlds.

The Maersk shipping Line is a Premium Sponsor and their support has meant that 28 containers have brought Etchells to Perth, from around the world.

Major Sponsor: Audi Australia. Premium Sponsors: Maersk Line, Rob Bird's Pro Choice Safety Products, Fontys Pool Wines, Events Corp and Slam Advanced Technology Sportswear.

Support Sponsors: Perth Integrated Health Clinic, Oak Ridge Communication Group, Sail-World.com and North Sails.

Full entry lists for both regattas, along with a great deal of extra information at www.etchellsworlds2006.org