Conner Takes Lead in Fifth Race : Stars & Stripes Ahead by 14 Seconds After False Start

After a false start, Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes was overpowering New Zealand’s KZ7 again today in the America’s Cup challenge finals, leading by 14 seconds at the third mark and thriving in 26-knot winds.

Conner, leading 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, was going for the right to meet the Australian defender starting Jan. 31.

New Zealand spent Sunday’s lay day repairing various broken parts on its fiberglass KZ7 after Saturday’s lopsided race.

Stars & Stripes’ strategy, as usual, was to start from the left end of the line away from the Kiwis and use its superior speed to outrace them to the first windward mark.

But, sloshing around in steep seas and 26 knots of wind, Dickson foiled that plan on the first aborted start when he slipped under Conner’s bow, with leeward rights, and Conner had to tack away to the right.

Thirty seconds before the gun, Conner tried to jibe back to the left but was so late that Dickson had a three-length lead.

However, Conner got a break. The buoy at the left end of the line had dragged its mooring downwind, and the committee posted a general recall a few seconds later.

The Kiwis turned back, but Conner hadn’t gotten the word, while his tactician, Tom Whidden, could be heard over the on-board TV microphone exhorting the crew: “I’ll tell you one thing, guys, we’re gonna kick his (rear end) today.”

The restart was 45 minutes later (10 p.m. PST).

Again, Dickson kept his boat between Stars & Stripes and the left end of the line, but this time Conner also powered off on starboard with the Kiwis, and when they crossed after Dickson tacked five minutes later, Dickson had to dip below his stern.

The Australian defenders, meanwhile, had no trouble getting underway, with minimal jousting and no protests before the start.

Warren Jones, executive director of Alan Bond’s syndicate, said he didn’t agree with speculation that its Australia IV, trailing Kookaburra III, 3-0, in the best-of-nine series before today, had been slowed by recent modifications.

“I don’t think the boat’s slower at all,” Jones said. “We’ve got to give credit where credit is due. I think they’re quicker (than they were).”

Kookaburra III had a three-second edge as they went off opposite ends, but they were virtually even when they met bow to bow on opposite tacks a few minutes later.

AIV skipper Colin Beashel, on port tack, had to yield rights and was a second or two late tacking under KIII’s bow. KIII skipper Iain Murray luffed up more a moment to avoid a collision and immediately unfurled his red protest flag.

KIII rounded the first mark 13 seconds in front but, surfing on the edge of control, AIV cut it to six seconds in a wild downwind ride.