Yachting: Mr Fixit flying on emergency mission

By Suzanne McFadden

Esteemed boatbuilder Eric Goetz has come to the rescue of Young America for a second time.

Goetz and two of his colleagues from Bristol, Rhode Island, flew into Auckland early this morning on an emergency mission to rebuild the crumpled USA53, which almost sank on the America's Cup course two days ago.

The man who has built seven America's Cup yachts in the past eight years will also help to restrengthen sister ship USA58 to make sure it does not suffer the same fate when it takes over the racing role, possibly this weekend.

It is not the first time that Goetz has come to the aid of Young America's boats. On the eve of the 1995 defender series, USA36 crashed from its cradle, hit by a tornado.

Back then he made a dash across the United States to repair the boat.

This time the journey has been across the globe in response to a phone call from out on the Hauraki Gulf less than an hour after Young America's racing boat folded in half.

Goetz will go straight from the airport to the compound this morning to assess the damage to USA53, a boat designed by arguably the world's most successful racing yacht designer, Kiwi Bruce Farr.

There was overwhelming confidence in the Young American camp yesterday that the boat, which has a caved-in deck and torn sides, would be back sailing by Christmas.

It is a brave call, with no one yet knowing how extensive the damage is, or why it happened.

It may never race again, but the reason for rebuilding the salvaged boat is to keep USA58 honest before the January 2 semifinals. Said skipper Ed Baird: "Having that second boat there is our stopwatch."

The tired, but fired-up, Young America crew must turn their attention away from the broken boat and focus solely on getting USA58 ready to race before they lose any more points.

Young America head John Marshall, back in the United States, said the boat would be strengthened today, whether it needs it or not.

The structure of the two boats is very similar, and the camp are concerned about it. If the new boat comes out with a clean bill of health, they will take the reinforcing out later.

Under the rules, Young America have to forfeit four points to their opponents today, the one-win Swiss team, before they can introduce a replacement boat.

USA58 will have to be floated and measured by regatta officials before it can be given the go-ahead to sail, and they need a perfect day to carry it out.

Yesterday was not an ideal day - and today's forecast did not look much better. Racing was called off yesterday when winds gusted to 35 knots, mixed with 3m waves. The same is expected today, with little respite on Friday.

Young America collectively sighed with relief.

Said Baird: "Mother Nature might be giving us a little hand here."