US wins America's Cup
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from February 1987.
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Dennis Conner sailed Stars and Stripes to a 4-0 victory over Kookaburra III to win back the America's cup he lost at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1983, but Australians joined with Americans in celebrating the victory.
In taverns and hotels throughout Fremantle, Australians shared drinks with Americans as Conner steered his yacht to victory. Shops were largely deserted.
At the Newport Hotel, unofficial headquarters of the American fans, the doors had to be closed just before the start of the race because the building was packed to capacity.
Some Australians tried to climb into the tavern through the windows. It was a wild scene, but security guard Mark Bailey said there had been no incidents.
"The Australians have been just awesome," said Johnelle Miller, 20, from the United States. "The people here are showing us tremendous respect."
At the Norfolk Hotel, 100 yards down Fremantle's main street, Australians sang "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow," to salute Conner.
The mass of singing, sweating bodies included New Yorker Walker Mason, who said the scene was like a Super Bowl celebration. "I was in New Orleans for the Super Bowl last year and this is the same kind of atmosphere over a longer period," he said.
"The Australians have been amazingly friendly. "It's a fun, drinking, crazy kind of crowd, but there is no hostility at all."
Pandemonium reigned at the San Diego Yacht Club as local hero Dennis Conner crossed the finish line.
"It was fantastic. We just smoked them," Yacht Club member Chris Hansen said. "Conner is just a fantastic sailor and the crew is just great."
Stars and stripes' victory, which was televised live nationwide on the ESPN cable television network, was the lead item on some radio newscasts. But the victory did not generate the same national interest as the World Series or the Super Bowl.
In San Diego, though, people were euphoric over the victory. Chris Haleva, a college student from Perth who was among the throng at the Norfolk, said, "I'm bitterly disappointed we have lost the cup to the Americans, but we might as well enjoy ourselves. It won't affect the national ego, we've got too many other things going for us." Gillian Bullock, another Perth resident, said Australians had accepted defeat before the fourth race of the series. "I think everyone was resigned to it and we are reknowned for having a good time regardless," she said.
"It isn't a disaster we lost a boat race. Everyone went crazy when we won it, so we might as well go crazy now we have lost it."
