| | AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- America True scuttled Young America's semifinal hopes by deciding to skip the final two races in the third round of the America's Cup challenger series.
The decision means Le Defi Francais, scheduled to face America True on Tuesday (Monday in the United States) in a race postponed from Monday, only needs to complete the course alone to collect nine points for a victory and qualify for the semifinals ahead of the New York Yacht Club entry.
Racing was postponed Monday because of wind gusts of more than
30 knots on Hauraki Gulf.
Skipper Dawn Riley said America True, which has already qualified for the next round, won't sail because it wants to protect its only boat.
"This is a competition first and foremost. Our goal is to
win," Riley said. "We had a meeting this morning and looked at
all the options and decided that this was the most straightforward
way to do it. We have other things to move on to, and the weather
looks horrible."
In a statement, Young America said it was disappointed by America True's decision.
"Certainly we had hoped that America True would give the French a fair race on the water," the statement said.
"While it is unfortunate that America True has decided not to
race against the French, Young America will complete its races in
round-robin three of the Louis Vuitton Cup as long as we have
opponents."
Young America is the New York Yacht Club's first challenger in 12 years. The syndicate won eight of its 10 races in the first round-robin, and appeared to have two fast Bruce Farr-designed boats.
But then one buckled and almost sank in November, and the second boat was rushed out of the shed early.
In eight races this round, Young America has won just three times, including a free victory against the withdrawn Swiss entry.
Le Defi Francais won just five of its first 20 starts, but has won six in a row in the third round, when races are worth nine points apiece.
Dennis Conner's Stars and Stripes clinched a semifinals berth Sunday with its victory over AmericaOne, and Italy's Prada maintained the series lead with a win over Abracadabra.
Prada leads the series with 109 points, followed by America True (101), AmericaOne (99), Nippon (92.5), Stars and Stripes (81.5), Le Defi Francais (68), Young America (51), Spanish Challenge (44),
Abracadabra (43) and Young Australia (18).
The four-month regatta will decide which of the 10 remaining teams takes on defender New Zealand for sailing's most prized trophy, the America's Cup, in a best-of-9 series starting in February. The semifinals start on Jan. 2, and will feature a double round-robin with victories counting one point each.
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Young America on the brink of America's Cup elimination
Third-round schedule and results
How the competition works
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