AMERICA’S CUP : Most of the Sailing Will be for Second

Racing for the America’s Cup is scheduled to start May 6, but it may as well begin today. Team New Zealand and Young America continue to be so dominant that the defender and challenger semifinals, and the upcoming finals, are starting to look like formalities.

Team New Zealand, a winner by 1:44 over TAG Heuer Challenge on Saturday, has a record of 27-1, which includes a lost protest. It is 5-0 in the semifinals, winning by an average of 2 minutes 40 seconds.

On the defenders’ side, Young America remained unbeaten in the semifinals Saturday with a 47-second victory over America 3’s Mighty Mary.

Team New Zealand, which races today against winless Nippon, has not really been tested in the semifinals, the closest match being a 39-second victory over oneAustralia on March 22. Team New Zealand took a 45-second lead over TAG Heuer on Saturday’s first leg and breezed.

That TAG Heuer, also from New Zealand, could not make a race of it bodes well for Team New Zealand’s hopes. TAG was, and is, second among the four challenger semifinalists, winning three races against the other two boats but losing twice to Team New Zealand by an average of two minutes.

If Young America was to be tested, it appeared Saturday could be the day. Mary was not so mighty, and not at all threatening. Young America went to the right on the first leg, built up a 28-second lead and coasted to a victory.

Appropriately, the race for second place, and the other berth in defender and challenger finals, takes center stage today. TAG Heuer has a one-victory advantage over oneAustralia, today’s foe, which has beaten only Nippon. Team Dennis Conner, fighting America 3for the second defender slot, could take a major step if it can upset Young America.

However, the only thing upsetting about the America’s Cup semifinals is that upsets have been nonexistent.

Mary was not so mighty, and not at all threatening, Saturday. Young America went to the right on the first leg, built up a 28-second lead and coasted to a victory which made its overall record 17-6.