In the 111-year history of the America's Cup, 17 challengers had gone down to defeat before superior U.S. boats and superior U.S. seamanship. Of 55 races, the challengers had won only five*—and the last boat to do it was Britain's Endeavour, 28 years ago. But last week, off Newport, R.I., Australia's Gretel and Skipper Jock Sturrock proved to be unawed by the statistics. In the first four races of the best-of-seven series, the Aussies lost three to the U.S. defender, Weatherly, and her quiet genius, Bus Mosbacher. But Gretel did win one, and in...
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