Stars & Stripes Falls Into Fifth Place Overall After Conner Concedes a Rules Violation
Dennis Conner managed to nurse Stars & Stripes through light 7-to-8-knot winds to fourth place in today’s fleet race of the 12-meter world sailing championships, but then conceded a mysterious rules violation and dropped three spots.
The result left the only American entry in fifth place overall, with two fleet races remaining before the fleet is cut to the top four boats for the match-racing semifinals starting July 4.
No other boat protested Stars & Stripes, but the America’s Cup winner sailed into port flying an “I” code flag, indicating it was acknowledging an infringement of a rule. Conner would not discuss the matter.
“Maybe tomorrow,” he said.
Peter Gilmour sailed Australia’s Kookaburra II to its third straight victory, 1 minute 36 seconds ahead of Colin Beashel’s Bengal, formerly Australia IV and now a combined Australian-Japanese entry.
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