Light Winds Continue to Plague Stars & Stripes in Sardinia

Light winds persisted in the 12-meter sailing World Championships Thursday, with Stars & Stripes, Dennis Conner’s America’s Cup champion, struggling near the back of the pack.

Wednesday’s race was abandoned when the wind died, and Thursday’s race was delayed for two hours until there was enough wind to sail. Then Kookaburra II, with Peter Gilmour at the helm, won by 3 minutes 58 seconds over Britain’s White Horse, with Stars & Stripes fifth.

Four more fleet races remain before the eight-boat field is cut to four semifinalists for match racing. Stars & Stripes, with fifth- and sixth-place finishes, is sixth overall.