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Prada Sweeps Cup Races

October 26, 1999 / 6:54 PM EDT / AP

With its mast damaged in a morning race, AmericaOne struggled with only a headsail raised against Young America before finally withdrawing Thursday.

The win put Young America behind Italy's Prada in the first round of the challenger races for sailing's America's Cup.

Prada finished the round-robin with a 10-0 record. AmericaOne lost only to Young America and Prada, while Young America was defeated by Prada and Dennis Conner's Stars and Stripes.

AmericaOne bowman Curtis Blewitt clung precariously to the top of the mast, trying to make repairs as the boat rocked violently in choppy seas and heavy rain. Trailing by more than 1.8 miles, AmericaOne gave up, giving Young America the win.

AmericaOne's Paul Cayard said he asked officials to delay the start so repairs could be made, but wasn't complaining that the postponement wasn't granted.

"It has come time to show up at the starting line ready to sail," Cayard said. "If you have damage and you break down, you are probably not ready to race."

The 11 syndicates from seven countries will now begin reconfiguring their boats for the second round-robin in the regatta to decide who will take on defender New Zealand for the America's Cup next year.

Delays and controversial rulings were common during the first round-robin.

Racing was due to end last Saturday, but officials altered the race schedule to give AmericaOne time to make repairs after a collision with Stars and Stripes.

The decision angered some teams, which wanted a quick finish to the round-robin so they could work on their boats for the more important second group of races.

When they resumed Wednesday, racing was thrown into disarray when the race director postponed the morning's races, then ordered teams to do a quick turnaround and begin their afternoon races.

Two boats protested, claiming they did not have time to carry out repairs needed after the first races. The official jury voided the results of two races, including Prada's first victory over Abracadabra. They were rerun Thursday.

Winning boats earned one point per victory in the first round-robin, four points for victory in the second, and nine for winning in the third round-robin. A final series will decide the challenger for the America's Cup regatta starting in February 2000.