Challenger for America’s Cup
Last-place China Team scored the upset of the Louis Vuitton Cup sailing series to determine the challenger for the America’s Cup, trouncing leading BMW Oracle’s USA 98 on Monday by 3 minutes 5 seconds.
Highlights: China Team, which had forfeited four races in the first round because of a keel box problem, finally scored its first points on the water with its victory over the Americans.
* Lowlights: The American boat was in control at the start but lost its headsail because of a gear problem halfway through the first upwind leg. Efforts to re-hoist the sail proved fruitless, and BMW Oracle fell into a tie for the series lead with Italy’s Luna Rossa Challenge.
* What’s next: Racing in the second round robin will continue today and must finish by May 9. The top four finishers then will advance to the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals, May 14-24.
* Quote of the day: “A small piece didn’t do its job today, which meant bad luck for us and bad luck for the team because we didn’t get the points.” -- Helmsman StenMohr of BMW Oracle Racing.
*--* STANDINGS Boat Pts 1t. BMW Oracle Racing 23 1t. Luna Rossa Challenge 23 3. Emirates Team New Zealand 20 4. Desafio Espanol 2007 19 5. Victory Challenge 16 t6. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia 14 t6. Team Shosholoza 14
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Source: Times Wire Reports