Lady With A Mast

The all-woman crew of America� drew most of the attention as the defenders series for the America's Cup began last week off San Diego—especially after beating Dennis Conner's Stars and Stripes in one of two races. But a part-woman hull got its share of looks too. "I hope this blonde will turn heads," says Roy Lichtenstein, the 71-year-old Pop Art legend whose mermaid graces the length of the third boat in the series, the PACT95 syndicate's Young America. "She's a colorful, mysterious character who's comfortable and confident in her ocean home."

Alas, Young America was discomforted on Jan. 4, when a small tornado tore through her compound, doing close to $1 million in damage and pockmarking Lichtenstein's masterwork. "She took a sharp poke in the chin," says Kevin Mahaney, who skippered the repaired boat to victory over America� on Sunday. "She may be blemished, but her spirit is unbroken."