AMERICA’S CUP : Challenge Australia Loses Its Way

Winless and now almost hopeless in their quest of the America’s Cup, the sailors of Challenge Australia can hardly relate to front-running New Zealand, which defeated perhaps its strongest rival, Il Moro di Venezia, by 1 minute 16 seconds Wednesday.

That was supposed to be the most interesting match of the day, and it was until the Kiwis broke away to stay on the second upwind leg for their 10th victory in 11 races--their only loss coming against Il Moro in the first round of the defender trials.

Nippon skipper Chris Dickson, leading Challenge Australia by 2:15 at the first reach mark halfway through the 20-mile race, suddenly turned his boat head into the wind and stopped.

The first report was that two crewmen had fallen overboard. Actually, grinders Taketaro Suizi and Matsukichi Nishikawa stripped and dived under the boat to remove a huge clump kelp from the keel.

The operation took about four minutes, as Challenge Australia sailed past, building a lead of 1:32 and 1:29 at the next two marks.

As the Australian crew dropped its gennaker headsail approaching the last leeward mark, the sail became wedged, fell into the water and wrapped around the keel. The Australians gave back the four minutes and more, and Nippon was home free by 3:33.

Spirit of Australia won easily over Sweden’s Tre Kronor by 2:52, and Ville de Paris thumped Espana ’92 by 3:07.