AMERICAONE WINS ITS 5TH RACE IN ROUND ROBIN 2
Heaviest Winds of Louis Vuitton Cup Series
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, November 18, 1999 – AmericaOne, the San Francisco-based St. Francis Yacht Club’s America’s Cup 2000 challenger, won its fifth race of Round Robin 2 against Young Australia’s oneAustralia (AUS 31) by 5m 39s. The start of the race began in 22+ knots of wind which had only slightly subsided by the end of the match. Cayard and the AmericaOne Crew showed good teamwork and speed as they gained distance on five out of the six legs.
The start of Race 10 commenced with heavy winds and large swells as the Race Committee struggled to set the marks on time for the start of the match. Once the starting gun sounded, the duel lasted only a short time as Cayard and the AmericaOne Team ran off on starboard tack 13 seconds ahead of the competition, leading James Spithill and the Young Australian Crew in a feverish chase as USA 49’s lead grew to nearly two boatlengths. The winds increased to 28 knots and white caps blanketed the course. Both boats pitched accordingly in the deep swells pushing the bows to dive under the waves as water splashed onto the boats and rushed to flow out of the respective scoops. USA 49 rounded the last weather leg and stretched a 1500 meter lead to a solid victory.
“The most important aspect of today’s race, aside from the good teamwork, was that we didn’t suffer any breakage in the heavy winds,” commented Jim Nicholas, AmericaOne Grinder. “We sailed well in some very challenging conditions and felt confident in the heavy air. Two consecutive days of hard sailing this week showed us that USA 49 is strong and durable.”
RR2/Race 10 Starting Line-Up: Greg Prussia of 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; Jim Nicholas of San Diego, CA, grinder; Phil Trinter of Lorain, OH, grinder; Mike Howard of Malibu, CA, grinder; David McClintock of Portsmouth, RI, upwind trim; Morgan Trubovich of Newport, RI, downwind trim; Lexi Gahagan of Wilimington, 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. Larry Finch.
Final Scores To Date:
Prada /42 points
America True /34 points
Stars & Stripes /32.5 points
AmericaOne /28 points*
Young America / 25 points
Nippon Challenge /21.5 points*
Spanish Challenge /17 points*
Le Defi Francais /14 points*
Abracadabra 2000 /12 points**,*
Young Australia /9 points*
FAST2000 /8 points
* Were not able to complete Race 6 due to insufficient wind
** Abracadabra had a BYE today
Other Delta Results:
America True beat Nippon Challenge – Delta 00:12
Stars & Stripes beat Young America/YOUNG AMERICA WITHDREW FROM RACE
Spanish Challenge beat FAST 2000 – Delta 02:14
Prada beat Le Defi Francais — Delta 03:49
Round Robin 2
AmericaOne’s schedule for the remainder of Round Robin 2 is as follows:
