AMERICA’S CUP : Il Moro’s Complaint Dismissed

New Zealand and Il Moro di Venezia will return to the water today after the Italians’ latest shots across the Kiwis’ controversial bowsprit fell short Monday.

The America’s Cup was an indoor sport for the day, with the challengers’ jury locked in an all-day hearing on the ongoing dispute, which already had cost New Zealand its fourth victory last Saturday.

While Il Moro skipper Paul Cayard and New Zealand skipper Rod Davis met with the five-man jury at the Southwestern Yacht Club, then waited out the decision, the Kiwi crew was out practicing modified maneuvers it hoped would meet with the approval of the jury, as well as its rivals.

After 10 hours, the jury dismissed Cayard’s further contention on racing Rule 64.4 (a) that New Zealand was in violation of the rules “every single day” because it was sheeting, or controlling the trim of, its gennaker headsail through an outrigger--i.e., the bowsprit.

The rope in question, the jury determined, “is not a sheet . . . (and therefore) Rule 64.4 was not infringed.”

Sunday, the jury had annulled a New Zealand victory, cutting the Kiwis’ lead in the best-of-nine challenger finals to 3-1, and then Il Moro closed to 3-2 by winning later that day. The challengers will resume racing today, while Dennis Conner tries to continue his comeback with Stars & Stripes in the best-of-13 defender finals. America 3leads 4-3, but Conner has won the last two races.