AMERICA’S CUP / DAILY REPORT : Four Challengers Fall in a Sea of Money

Spain, Sweden and two crews from Australia were ushered out of the America’s Cup with stiff upper lips and champagne Sunday but, in truth, their bubbles burst long ago.

It all comes down to economics.

Spirit of Australia skipper Peter Gilmour said, “The issue is the money, and what it takes to participate is quite unbelievable. There is going to be quite a lot of discussion about where the Cup is going from here.”

Principals of the new International America’s Cup Class will meet this week, and most seem to be leaning toward restricting costs to allow broader participation and more level competition.

It was no surprise that none of the bottom four ever beat any of the top four. That the pattern held with all four races Sunday.

With westerly winds building from 6 to 12 knots, Nippon (18-3, 82 points) easily beat Challenge Australia (1-20, 8).

New Zealand (18-3, 74), with skipper Rod Davis taking a day off as Russell Coutts took the helm, cruised past Sweden’s Tre Kronor (3-18, 13) by 6:11.

Ville de Paris (14-7, 61) fought off Espana ’92 (7-14, 30) by 1:38, and Il Moro di Venezia (15-6, 69) beat Spirit of Australia (7-14, 27) by 1:15.