Yachting: Dead skipper an inspiration to Japanese

By Suzanne McFadden

Nippon - one of the few America's Cup challengers truly ready to go in today's opening race - will dedicate their victories on the Hauraki Gulf to Makoto Namba, their lost skipper.

Namba, a vivid cup personality who skippered the Japanese challenge in 1995, was lost overboard in an offshore race over two years ago. Some of the Nippon crew in Auckland today were on board that boat.

Yet he still has a presence in this crew, the dark horses to win the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series.

New skipper, world No 1 Peter Gilmour, said last night that it had been a long haul for the Nippon camp since the 1995 cup.

"Makoto Namba said we would be back - but sadly he will not be," he said. "His death has weighed heavily on us, and we're taking his memory with us. Namba-san is somebody you genuinely miss - I keep expecting to see him laughing around the corner. He was a real America's Cup character like Dennis Conner."

But the Japanese have not been dwelling on their sorrow. They have had more sailing time with their two new boats, nicknamed Idaten and Asura, than any other challenge syndicate.

In fact, they had their boats in the water in March - two months before the Italian Prada team launched their Luna Rossas.

Some of the syndicates have only launched their new-generation yachts in the last month.

"We felt that using old boats to test was a waste of time," Gilmour said. "We've come a long way since we launched these boats."

The Japanese will race Hawaii's Abracadabra 2000 on the Atlantic course around 10.30 am today, before meeting Prada - the big clash of the day - in the afternoon.

Abracadabra skipper John Kolius said he was excited about sailing "Gillie" in the first race - so he could get it over and done with.

"He's very good at teaching me matchracing skills, so I'm looking forward to learning something," he said.

Prada are being touted as favourites by rival AmericaOne skipper Paul Cayard, based on their budget and their seasons on the water.

But first-time skipper Francesco de Angelis said his team had to work hard to "close the gap" after the Italians did not compete in 1995.

The master of the America's Cup, Dennis Conner, will pit his Stars & Stripes boat against the French first-up today - the first time the Conner boat has lined up with anyone.

Asked where he would sail on the boat, Conner said: "If we have a nice race, I'm planning on being behind the wheel at the finish. If we're behind, I'll be ducking behind the traveller."

The weather forecast today is for shifty, light winds which are not likely to lift above 10 knots - an ideal first day for a challenger fleet feeling their way. The 11 challengers will race on two of three courses mapped out on the gulf - the other set aside for Team New Zealand's two-boat debut today.