Conner’s Stars & Stripes Loses, Is Out of World Championships

Australia’s Kookaburra II, New Zealand’s KZ7 and Bengal scored their second straight victories in the semifinals of the world 12-meter yacht racing championship Monday, while America’s Stars & Stripes again was beaten.

Sweden’s Entertainer 12, skippered by Pelle Petterson, handed Dennis Conner his second loss, beating him by 3 minutes 18 seconds and ending Stars & Stripes’ hopes for a berth in the final.

Kookaburra II, an Australian entry skippered by Peter Gilmour, beat Sfida Italiana of Italy by 5 minutes 18 seconds. Australia’s Bengal, skippered by Colin Beashel, finished ahead of Steak ‘n Kidney by 2 hours 32 minutes.

However, both Steak ‘n Kidney and Bengal protested an incident at the first mark. If Bengal wins the protest, its place in the final will be assured; if not, Bengal will have to beat Entertainer 12 today to earn a final berth.

New Zealand’s KZ7, with David Barnes at the helm, won its second semifinal race, beating White Horse, a British yacht, by 5 hours 18 minutes.