AMERICAONE WINS SIXTH RACE AGAINST SAN FRANCISCO R
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, January 10, 2000 – AmericaOne, the San Francisco-based St. Francis Yacht Club’s America’s Cup 2000 challenger, won its sixth match of the series against Dawn Riley’s America True (USA 51) by 1m 16s. After gear failure prevented the two teams from having a competitive match in Race 2 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals the two teams were granted near perfect conditions for the San Francisco showdown in 8-14 knot winds.
This afternoon’s race was delayed due to an initial request by America True to repair a damaged winch and then to allow the winds to settle in direction and speed. At the five minute gun, Paul Cayard, at the helm of USA 61, and John Cutler, at the helm of USA 51, both entered the starting box falling off onto a deep reach. Non-aggressive maneuvering took place as the teams opted for opposite ends of the starting line. With 40 seconds to go until the start, the boats tacked onto port timing their approach to the line. USA 61 and USA 51 started on split tacks, AmericaOne accelerating and pulling away from rival John Cutler on port tack. Three minutes into the race, AmericaOne tacked onto starboard. Both boats stretched left towards the port layline and AmericaOne benefited from a right 30 degree windshift. USA 61 rounded the first mark on a bear away set, 1m 12s ahead of USA 51. Throughout the remaining legs of the race the team showed significant speed and crisp teamwork extending their lead on the beats to finish the race considerably ahead of their San Francisco competitor.
“Today’s race was another point for AmericaOne as we move a step closer to our goal for this round of the Louis Vuitton Cup,” commented AmericaOne Skipper Paul Cayard.
Semi-Finals
During the Semi-Finals six challengers from four nations will race each other two times. The scoreboard from the previous rounds has been cleared, the winner receiving one point per race. Only two of the six teams will remain after the next ten races. Racing is scheduled to begin at 1:15 PM local time on a full-length America’s Cup course, three laps totaling 18.55-nautical miles windward-leeward format.
Semi-Finals/Race 7 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; Matt Welling of Bay Shore, NY, grinder; David McClintock of Portsmouth, RI, upwind trim; Carter Perrin of Houston, TX, downwind trim; Paul Cayard of Kentfield, CA, helmsman; John Kostecki of Fairfax, CA, tactician; Gavin Brady of Annapolis, MD, strategist; Terry Hutchinson of Annapolis, MD, mainsheet; Morgan Larson of Capitola, CA, traveler; Sean Clarkson of Middletown, RI, main assist and Lexi Gahagan of Wilmington, DE, navigator. The 17th crew person was Jim Doyle of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Final Scores To Date:
AmericaOne / 6 points
Prada Challenge/ 5 points
Stars & Stripes / 3 points*
Nippon Challenge / 3 points
America True / 1 point
Le Defi Francais / 0.5 point
* International Jury has stripped one point from Stars & Stripes for breaching Article 19 of the Protocol.
Other Results:
Prada Challenge beat Stars & Stripes – Delta: 01:09
Nippon Challenge beat Le Defi Francais – Delta 00:52
AmericaOne ‘s schedule for the remainder of the Semi-Finals is as follows:
