French Yacht Takes the Final Heat; Series-Winner Australia III Stays Put

French Kiss stormed home in a stiff breeze and choppy seas to take the final heat of the World 12-Meter Championships Sunday.

But the victory by the fast-sailing French boat--its second in the seven-race series--did not affect the overall outcome.

Australia III, the boat that the Alan Bond syndicate hopes will defend America’s Cup in 1987, already had built an unbeatable overall lead and did not even race Sunday. Australia III finished with 22.7 points.

French Kiss finished the seventh heat 31.9 seconds ahead of the New York Yacht Club’s America II, which tore the top panel of its mainsail in a tacking duel with the French boat on the last windward beat.

This second placing dropped America II to third place in the final standings with 36.7 points behind New Zealand kz5, which had 32.8.

The fiberglass New Zealand boat with Chris Dickson at the helm finished in third place in the final heat.

The veteran Australia II, which won the America’s Cup in 1983, finished in fourth place overall with 38.4 points after finding the wind conditions too heavy .

The final race was sailed in steady 22 knot south westerly breeze, conditions which are expected to prevail for the America’s Cup.

Most of the entries in the 12-meter competition used the races as a warm-up for the America’s Cup eliminations which will be sailed in the same waters October through January. However, four American syndicates did not send boats.