AmericaOne and Prada Win by Narrow Margins

AmericaOne and Prada were winners today in two of the closest races thus far in the America’s Cup challenger series on the Hauraki Gulf.

Good weather conditions returned to the inner gulf and produced two excellent match races featuring tacking duels, lead changes and penalty turns.

In the 10- to 12-knot winds, AmericaOne (over Japan) and Prada (over France) won by a combined 41 seconds.

AmericaOne skipper Paul Cayard has made a living out of turning slim margins into big wins, and did so again today with a 23-second victory against Japan’s Nippon Challenge.

AmericaOne’s third win of the semifinals moved the team from San Francisco into a tie with idle Stars and Stripes for the top spot in the semifinals. Both teams have three points.

In the day’s other match, Italy’s Prada Challenge returned to the winner’s circle after a two-race losing streak with its come-from-behind victory over the French boat.

Prada overcame two penalties and a 14-second deficit at the second windward mark to keep alive its chances of advancing to the challenger finals. The Italians evened their record at 2-2, pulling into a tie with Nippon, their opponent Saturday.

Le Defi Francais remains winless in four races and was also saddled with a half-point penalty by the international jury Thursday for a collision with Stars and Stripes earlier in the week.

Stars and Stripes remained in its shed on syndicate row as repairs to the transom scoop continued. Although AmericaOne pulled even in points, Stars and Stripes still has an undefeated record at 3-0.

Those teams race Saturday for the outright lead.