Both Andrea Watson and your reporter enjoyed preparing this week's column. Readers of last week's column were privileged to have made available to them a guest column by Ed du Moulin. Guess what comes next? As a Christmas present from a family member, your reporter received a book entitled The America's Cup. The authors are Dennis Conner and Michael Levitt. The first statement in the "Acknowledgments" reads: "The authors are most indebted to Ed du Moulin, who helped edit this manuscript." A glance through the index assures the reader of many good hours of reading germane to the America's Cup in February, 2000.

In a Quick Guide to America's Cup 2000, prepared by the challengers, there is an article entitled New Tricks for the Whistle Blowers based on statements made by Bryan Willis, Chief Umpire, a devotee of on-board umpires on yachts. He comments: "I think it is a great idea. The on-board umpires create greater immediacy to do the decision-making and also give the umpires a perfect view of the incidents as they occur." In addition, the Chief Umpire is planning new innovations for America's Cup 2000 jury proceedings. Observers from all the syndicates and nominated journalists from media centers will be allowed to sit in on the hearings. In the past, jury hearings were closed to the public with only the parties involved present.

There was no frostbiting this weekend due to the holiday.