| | AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- AmericaOne handed Prada its second loss in 24 races in the America's Cup challenger series, beating
the Italian front-runner by 23 seconds Monday.
The victory, worth nine points, moved the San Francisco team
within one point of the Italians in the 11-syndicate competition.
The winner will face New Zealand next year for sailing's most
prized trophy.
|  | | Prada was leading but had to complete a penalty turn due to a collision before the start of the race on Monday. |
In light winds of between 11 and 14 knots on Hauraki Gulf,
AmericaOne gained the upper hand in pre-start maneuvers when Prada
skipper Francesco de Angelis was penalized when his boat's bow
nudged into AmericaOne's stern scoop.
The race was closely fought, although Prada's lead going into
the last beat should have been enough to allow it to complete its
penalty turn and still hold on for victory.
But Paul Cayard's AmericaOne got a favorable wind shift and
passed Prada for the 23-second victory.
In other races, Japan's Nippon dominated the Spanish challenge
to win by 1 minute, 19 seconds; America True defeated Abracadabra
by 1 minute, 35 seconds. Young Australia was granted a victory
after sailing the course alone following the withdrawal of the
Swiss team.
The race between Dennis Conner's Stars and Stripes and Young
America has been postponed while Stars and Stripes makes repairs
after a bulkhead pulled free from the hull during its race Sunday.
The Swiss team has withdrawn from the competition after snapping
its only mast, and after the challengers decided an offer by the
Spanish team to lend the Swiss a mast was outside race protocols. | |
ALSO SEE
Stars & Stripes suffers major setback with torn bulkhead
Third-round schedule and results
Young America ends round 2 in misery
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