AMERICA’S CUP : Women Leave Opponents in a Fog

The all-women’s team, America 3, held off a late comeback by race favorite Young America and emerged from a thick sea fog to win its second America’s Cup race Sunday.

America 3, with Leslie Egnot at the helm, took advantage of poor sail-handling by its opponent and crossed the finish line 14 seconds ahead of Young America. It was the first victory by the women’s team over Young America.

The outcome lifts the women into a second-place tie with Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes after the first day of the second round of the defender trials. Young America is in first place.

Racing began in ideal conditions with a 10-knot breeze and slight swell. Young America had the women in trouble at the start and sailed away with a 27-second lead as the gun fired.

But Young America lost its edge when skipper Kevin Mahaney steered the boat to the right side of the course. America 3went left into a wind change that lifted the boat to a 40-second lead at the first mark.

In a freshening breeze downwind, Young America closed the gap to less than a boat length. But poor sail-handling at the second mark scuttled the comeback.

The crew of Young America was unable to control the boat’s big sail, which blew into the water, wrapped around the keel and acted like a huge sea anchor. As a chase boat gathered up the torn cloth, America 3leaped to a 1:19 lead.

However, Young America was not out of the race. America 3struggled because of sail problems at the fourth mark and, by the final turn for home, the women were only 22 seconds in front. Much of the final leg was hidden from view as a dense fog cloaked the final stages of the race.

On the challenger course Sunday, oneAustralia defeated the New Zealand boat, NZL 39, by 1:07. In the other races, Team New Zealand defeated Sydney 95 by 1:56 and Japan’s Nippon Challenge was too strong for Spain’s Rioja de Espana, finishing 1:48 ahead.

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A member of Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes shore support crew collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack while working at the team’s compound.

Donn Wuest, 47, was in the boat work shop when he collapsed Sunday and was found two minutes later by a fellow crew member. He was taken to a hospital but never regained consciousness.

Wuest operated the team’s crane and had been with the Dennis Conner team since 1985.

“No job was too tough for Donn,” Conner said. “Everyone that knows him will miss him.”