Wednesday, January 5, 2000 Updated: June 2, 10:16 AM ET
Light winds force postponement!
Associated Press
AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Two semifinal races in the
America's Cup challenger series were postponed Thursday on the
Hauraki Gulf due to light wind.
Races matching AmericaOne against Nippon and Prada against Le
Defi Francais will be held Friday, weather permitting.
Dennis Conner's Stars and Stripes syndicate had been given a day
off Thursday to repair its boat after a collision with Le Défi Francais on Wednesday, and was reported to be asking the committee
for another day to make the repairs.
A decision on whether Stars and Stripes will race Friday and its
opponent was expected to be made later Thursday during a meeting
which will also consider possible action against Le Défi Francais
over the collision.
Stars and Stripes' scheduled race against America True, which
should have been sailed Thursday, was to have been staged at the
end of the semifinals.
Stars and Stripes leads the semifinals with three victories to
remain the only unbeaten boat.
Prada is under pressure to win all its remaining matches after
their mast snapped in its race against AmericaOne on Wednesday.
Italy's challenge now has just one victory in three races and
trails three rivals in the contest to be one of the two cup
finalists vying to race Team New Zealand in the America's Cup next
month.
Nippon and AmericaOne are tied for second with two victories
each, while Prada and America True have one point. The French have
no points and their chances of reaching the finals are fading.
