Late Penalty Costs AmericaOne a Win

Seconds away from tying the America’s Cup challenger finals, AmericaOne suffered a stunning defeat.

A penalty for blocking Prada as it charged from behind cost skipper Paul Cayard the race today even though he crossed the finish line less than a boat length ahead of the Italian yacht.

Then AmericaOne had to make a 270-degree penalty turn, a severe blow to a crew which had come back from serious boat damage that forced it to withdraw from Saturday’s third race. It led all the way today until the penalty turn.

“I don’t understand it,” Cayard said of the penalty.

Prada tactician Torben Grael did.

“He was trying to sail below and squeeze us to the mark and we just stayed on course,” Grael said.

Prada won by two minutes, 32 seconds and took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-nine series to determine a challenger to defending champion New Zealand in the best-of-nine America’s Cup finals starting Feb. 19. Race 5 is scheduled for Tuesday.