Kiwis Clobber Conner

Fri., May 12, 1995

Compiled From Wire Services

Get a baggage tag ready for the America’s Cup.

If skipper Dennis Conner can’t conjure up some voodoo against Black Magic 1, the oldest trophy in international sports will be swept away to New Zealand.

The swift Black Magic 1 carried Team New Zealand within one race of lifting the America’s Cup off archrival Conner by all but burying the mermaid boat Young America at sea. The margin was 3 minutes, 37 seconds, giving Black Magic 1 a 4-0 lead in the best-of-nine series.

This is the worst beating a challenger has given a U.S. defender in 144 years. Race five is scheduled for Saturday.

“It’s unbelievable how easy it’s been,” Kiwi tactician Murray Jones said.

Conner needs to win the five remaining races, a nearly impossible task against what appears to be a perfect boat and a well-tuned crew that has lost only once on the water in 42 races.

A four-time America’s Cup winner, Conner also is the only U.S. skipper to lose the Cup. He’s in danger of letting it go twice in 12 years.

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Kiwis Clobber Conner

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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