AMERICAONE WINS IMPORTANT MID-SERIES RACE AGAINS PRADA AND REMAINS AT TOP
Paul Cayard and the AmericaOne Team Force Italians to Take Second Loss of Series
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, December 6, 1999 – AmericaOne, the San Francisco-based St. Francis Yacht Club’s America’s Cup 2000 challenger, won today’s match against top ranked contender Prada (ITA 48) by 23s. Excitement was high as two of the top ranked teams squared off for a nail biting mid-series race for the Louis Vuitton Cup. Out of 24 matches sailed by Prada, this match marked their second loss, having won 22 of the 24 races.
Weather conditions remained shifty as light air prevailed and delayed the start of Race 5 for over an hour. ITA 48 was penalized after a pre-start knock on USA 49’s stern, which damaged AmericaOne’s scoop and Prada’s bow. Once racing got underway, AmericaOne was off to a well-timed start at the pin end on starboard tack eight seconds ahead of Prada. The slight wind conditions seemed to favor Italian’s light air boat as the team approached the first windward mark. A favorable right hand shift afforded Prada a big gain. No passing lanes remained up until the second windward mark but Cayard and the AmericaOne Team remained patient. Prada’s pre-start hit meant that they would have to make a penalty turn before the race ended. USA 49 closed up the distance on the last downwind leg and reduced ITA 48’s lead, not leaving Prada’s Skipper Francesco De Angelis enough time to execute a penalty turn. As AmericaOne crossed the finish line, Prada finished its turn.
“Prada is still the best team in my book,” remarked AmericaOne Skipper Paul Cayard. “They were able to position themselves well for the first favored right hand shift off of the starting line. We sailed a good race by hanging tough and keeping the race close. For us the match was successful not only because of the end result but because the racing was challenging and we pushed hard.”
Only three real matches were sailed today, as the race between Young America and Stars & Stripes was rescheduled for Wednesday. Young Australia sailed around the course alone to collect nine points since Be hAPpy withdrew from the Louis Vuitton Cup.
RR3/Race 4 Starting Line-Up: Greg Prussia, Oroville, CA, bow; Curtis Blewett of Los Angeles, CA, mid-bow; Bill Bates of San Diego, CA, mast/sewer; Josh Belsky of Hood River, OR, pit; Matt Welling of Bay Shore, NY, grinder; Phil Trinter of Lorain, OH, grinder; Jim Nicholas of San Diego, CA, grinder; David McClintock of Portsmouth, RI, upwind trim; Carter Perrin of Houston, TX, downwind trim; Lexi Gahagan of Wilmington, DE, runner; Paul Cayard of Kentfield, CA, helmsman; John Kostecki of Fairfax, CA, tactician; Morgan Larson of Capitola, CA, traveler; Terry Hutchinson of Annapolis, MD, mainsheet; Sean Clarkson of Middletown, RI, main assist; and Gavin Brady of Annapolis, MD, navigator. The 17th crew person was Mr. Tom Seip of Orinda, CA, USA.
Final Scores To Date:
Prada / 73 points
AmericaOne / 72 points
Nippon Challenge / 65.5 points
America True /65 points
Stars & Stripes / 45.5 points
Spanish Challenge /44 points
Young America / 42 points
Le Defi Francais /32 points *
Abracadabra 2000 /25 points
Young Australia /18 points
FAST2000 /8 points**
* Le Defi Francais had BYE today.
**FAST 2000 has withdrawn from the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Other Delta Results:
Nippon Challenge beat The Spanish Challenge – Delta 01:19
America True beat Abracadabra – Delta 01:35
Young Australia beat FAST2000/ FAST2000 WITHDREW DUE TO A BROKEN MAST
AmericaOne ‘s schedule for the remainder of Round Robin 3 is as follows:
