AMERICA’S CUP / DAILY REPORT : Conner Loses, Kiwis Are Disqualified

The America’s Cup trials had a little something for everyone Thursday.

On the fourth day of the challenger semifinals off Point Loma, the Nippon Challenge defeated the French and on-the-water umpires overturned a finish as New Zealand watched a close victory against Il Moro di Venezia turn sour.

The challengers relegated the defenders race of the day to what was little more than an afterthought.

Dennis Conner’s four-race victory streak against America 3 came to a halt on the fourth day of the semifinals. Kanza, skippered by alternating helmsmen Bill Koch and Buddy Melges, crossed the line 43 seconds ahead of Stars & Stripes, and boosted the spirits of an America 3camp that had started having twinges of self-doubt.

“No question we needed this, to bring the team back up to the levels of January, February, the end of March,” Melges said. “It renews our confidence in knowing what the designers told us early on is true. . . . It straightened out a lot of people.”

Nippon’s two-minute victory over damaged Ville de Paris didn’t so much straighten out the Japanese as it did answer the distress call of an 0-3 start in the semifinals.

In Il Moro di Venezia’s victory over New Zealand, the Kiwis were disqualified at the end of the race for hitting the starboard mark after what appeared to be a one-second victory.

New Zealand protested that it hadn’t touched the mark and said it had evidence to prove it. That evidence was heard later in the night by the International Jury, which rejected the protest.

Tom Ehman, general manager of the America’s Cup Organizing Committee and a jury member for the Olympics, thought the decision would stick. “I’d be surprised if it was overturned,” he said.

New Zealand skipper Rod Davis said there were crew members looking on the side of the boats.

“There was no question in our mind that we didn’t hit the buoy,” Davis said. “But it’s a difficult situation. The umpires have to be in the position to see it.” The Kiwis claimed the umpires weren’t.

New Zealand tactician David Barnes said if anything, wave action as the boat nears the mark pushes the yacht away from the mark.

“We believe we were pushed away from the mark,” he said. “We’re confident there was no contact.”

Italy’s victory puts Il Moro atop the standings at 3-1. New Zealand and Ville De Paris are 2-2, and Nippon is 1-4.

On the defenders’ side, Conner still needs three victories to finish in the top two slots and earn a place in the defender final.

Today is a lay day for both the challengers and defenders. On Saturday, Stars & Stripes and America 3 will race in the defenders’ competition, and New Zealand and Nippon and Il Moro di Venezia and Ville de Paris will meet in the challengers’ series.