U.S. Boat Tears Off to Win

AmericaOne’s lime-green sail billowed loosely, a big rip near the bottom. There was no panic, just patience, as Paul Cayard steered from behind and evened the America’s Cup challenger finals.

The sail was changed and AmericaOne beat Prada of Italy by 1 minute 33 seconds today in the best-of-nine series, which continues Friday with the third race.

For the second day, the team that made the dramatic mistake was the winner. Prada won the first race by 24 seconds after having to make a penalty turn for bumping the U.S. boat in maneuvering before the start.

In a sport that relies on advanced technology and experienced sailing sense, AmericaOne rallied today when its bad luck brought good fortune.

Cayard’s boat, which had won the start by eight seconds but lost the lead by 1:49 after the first leg, trailed by 18 seconds after the third of six legs. As it was turning around the buoy at the end of the upwind leg, it set a gennaker, a sail used in light breezes when sailing downwind, but the sail ripped horizontally.

Had AmericaOne tried to turn, the tattered sail would have torn to shreds. So it kept sailing into the spectator fleet, where it got a push from better wind in the area.

Billy Bates, the sewerman who works in the dark inside the hull pulling in used sails and feeding out new ones, then gave his crewmates a new gennaker. This one stayed together.

By the end of the fourth leg on the 18 1/2-mile Hauraki Gulf course, AmericaOne had opened a lead of 1:27, a gain of 1:45 on the leg.

Cayard, taking nothing for granted, stayed in control of his crew. “Looking for [wind] pressure,” he shouted as he turned the wheel at the back of the sleek, 80-foot boat. “Just chill out, everybody. Take a deep breath.”

His crew could breathe even easier after the fifth leg, when AmericaOne built its lead to 1:35. Cayard was relaxed as the boat approached the finish line, sitting on the port side of the hull and steering with only one hand as his crew showed little reaction.

The series winner faces defending champion New Zealand in another best-of-nine round for the America’s Cup.